The province of Catanduanes, along with four other Bicol provinces, missed out on the chance to get a share of the Quick Response Fund (QRF) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Among the projects to be bid out by DPWH regional office late this month are four projects costing more than P100 million each and reported to be charged to the department’s QRF, which is intended for calamity repair and rehabilitation works.
All four projects costing a total of nearly P400 million are located in Albay, which sustained less than half of the damage wrought by super typhoon Rolly on Nov. 1, 2020. The projects consist mostly of road rehabilitation and river control construction, which usually provides the most benefit for elected officials and their contractors.
Either our two congressmen were caught sleeping by the DPWH central office’s allocation to Albay or those behind it took such care to avoid being called out for cornering all of the QRF funds intended for the region.
*****
Two new confirmed COVID-19 positives have been added to the list of coronavirus cases in Catanduanes.
Reportedly, the two cases, both from the capital town of Virac, have no idea how or where they were infected before the symptoms manifested.
This should serve as a stark reminder to islanders that while there has been no new cases recorded in the past days, it is no guarantee that the virus is gone for the holidays.
The provincial COVID-19 task force and the LGUs should double its efforts to warn the populace not to be complacent and allow themselves to be lulled into celebrating the Christmas season with abandon.
There are now 118 COVID cases in the island. Of these, 113 have recovered, two have died and three is still in quarantine.
Let us hope that the two new cases are isolated and not part of a string of undiscovered positives circulating among the people.
*****
Thanks to the DPWH Catanduanes Engineering District, water service has returned to VIWAD concessionaires in Calatagan Proper and nearby barangays.
Without the DPWH’s timely action in helping clear debris from the intake tank and in repairing the twisted transmission line pipes, many residents would still be fetching water until next year.
*****
Those who still use electricity to catch fish in the province’s rivers and streams should better avoid getting caught by the authorities.
Recently, the Virac police filed a criminal case against four persons who were caught by Cavinitan barangay officials headed by Punong Barangay Matthea Tablizo while in the act of engaging in electrofishing at the nearby river.
The electrofishing devices, a “salbabida” and assorted fresh fishes were seized as evidence by the responding policeman, with fishery technologist Raymond Tolledo of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) provincial office certifying that the four men’s apprehension and the confiscation of fishing paraphernalia were in accordance with the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 8550, as amended by RA 10654.
Aside from banning fishing through explosives, noxious or poisonous substances or electricity, Sec. 92 of RA 10654 also provides that the discovery in any fishing vessel of fish caught using the banned methods shall constitute a prima facie presumption that the fisherfolk, operator, boat official or fishworker is fishing with the use thereof.
No bail was recommended by Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Louie Guerrero for the offense, which carries a punishment of six months in jail and a P5,000 fine.
*****
A MEETING IN HELL. A dead Filipino politician and his dead close aide bumped into each other in hell.
“I did not expect to see you here, sir,” said the aide.
The politician sighed: “I’m here because I lied, cheated and stole to pay the debts run up by that no-good son of mine. But what about you? You were a faithful, loyal aide to me for 40 years. What are you doing here?”
The aide replied: “For fathering that no-good son of yours.”