๐ฃ๐บ ๐๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฏ ๐. ๐๐ช๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ฏ
This issue is in entire black and white as the editor forgot to send the original front and back images to Metro Manila last Friday morning, Oct. 30, for color separation.
It turned out to be a correct decision as storm signal number one was raised that afternoon, preventing regular ferry trips from making it to the island due to the imminent threat of then tropical storm โRollyโ on Catanduanes.
It could be weeks before the Tribune would come out in color as trips to Manila have yet to resume.
Please bear with us this minor drop in image quality as we strive to bring you the news you need to read.
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Journalists from the Catanduanes Island Media Club (CIMC) met with Congressman Hector Sanchez last Saturday morning at 10 A.M. in his office at the Legislative Building, just as storm signal two was raised.
With financial assistance to Catanduanes under the Bayanihan 1 Act totaling P400 million, the solon said he is still lobbying for the budgetary needs of other government agencies, including DepEd.
He opined that the problems of modular learning are being compounded by weak wifi, which he claimed he is trying to improve as part of his priorities.
Sanchez disclosed that he has suggested to the division office the use of video clips to deliver lessons to the pupils and students, who he said should be given tablets for their education.
A P5 million funding from DSWD could be spent to buy cheap tablets that could be distributed to priority schools.
With regards to the huge budget cut on the capital outlay of the Catanduanes State University (CatSU) in 2021, the congressman bared that he has already written to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to appeal for the restoration of the slashed amount.
On the other hand, he assured that privatization could happen to FICELCO under the worst-case scenario.
Maybe the cooperative can get additional funds from the National Electrification Administrationโs surplus funds to replace its distribution lines, Sanchez suggested, adding that for sometime now, he has been trying to get the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) or the Department of Energy to resolve FICELCOโs problems.
โFor now, mas maganda na ma-privatize as long as there are terms and conditions to be observed by the winning company,โ he disclosed. โHindi tayo papayag na palitan ang mga empleyado. Para walang displacement, taasan ng sahod, give more benefits to them.โ
The first-termer stated that the lowering of Systems Loss to 3 to 5 percent from the present 12 percent would decrease the power rate and provide better job opportunities and urban development.
An amount of P60 million will be downloaded by NEDA to the provincial government for the conduct of a urban planning and environmental protection study.
With regards to the Virac airport, he said that while the pandemic has delayed the Department of Transportationโs scheduled airport improvement projects, Congress has already appropriated P70 million for the local airportโs night rating capability.
Rep. Sanchez said he is seeking another P25 million for the expansion of the terminal building as it is already crowded especially when two commercial planes begin landing in Virac.
San Andres will have its own boulevard while Viracโs ongoing project will see the boulevard extended to Gogon and San Vicente, providing a bypass road for public transport from the north.
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THATโS MY DOG! Two old men are arguing about whose dog is smarter.
โMy dogโs practically a genius,โ the first fellow boasts. โEvery morning he waits patiently for the newspaper to be delivered and then brings it to me.โ
โI know,โ the second man replies.
โWhat do you mean?โ the first man asks. โHow do you know?โ
The second fellow answers, โMy dog told me about it.โ