The earthquakes which rocked Catanduanes in the past week, including the magnitude 7.5 off Surigao, brought to mind one opportunity which municipal government of Virac missed more than 20 years ago.
During the first term of then Mayor Cito Alberto, the University of the Philippines’ National Institute of Geological Studies (NIGS) headed by Viracnon scientist Dr. Carlo Arcilla sent a letter requesting the assistance of the local government for the summer activity of its geology students.
Dr. Arcilla, who has been frequently in the news in connection with nuclear energy, asked the LGU to provide its team of students basic accommodation at the Liga ng mga Barangay hall and a vehicle for its study that would take a month at most.
Unfortunately, the administration at the time did not consider the project worthy of the expense.
The focus of the study? A fault line in Virac that starts somewhere near Capilihan’s mountains and stretches towards the back of Calatagan Tibang and Bigaa area.
The fault line is clearly depicted in the map of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and a study of the fault line could have determined at the time if it was active.
Locating the fault line could have provided the infrastructure agencies and the local building official an idea of where not to build critical infrastructure as well as allow house construction.
Now, Mayor Samuel Laynes is considering the possibility of hosting NIGS students for the same purpose, which would help the LGU in its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) function.
The Virac LGU recently won the Gawad Kalasag Award from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) regional office for significant initiatives in the promotion and advancement of DRRM and recognizes the LGU’s efforts in enhancing disaster preparedness and response.
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Belated congratulations to the 13 new medical doctors from Catanduanes: Dr. Dyna Karen Avila, Dr. Eduardo Asuncion, Dr. Justine Balmadrid, Dr. Paula Jean Cabanilla, Dr. Pauline Mae Candelaria, Dr. Rosean Floranza, Dr. Michelle Laynes, Dr. Pearl Kristine Lumbao, Dr. Hannal Izabella Olfindo, Dr. Krizza Mae Publico, Dr. Jorsal Dionne Tan, Dr. Ellin Rosella Tatad and Dr. Jana Lyra Tatad.
They were among the 4,083 out of 6.456 examinees who took the October 2023 licensure examination given by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) in various cities and provinces in the country.
Proud families of two of them recently held celebrations to honor their children’s achievement.
Engr. Rey Lumbao, who heads the Missionary Families of Christ (MFC) Catanduanes District, and public school teacher Geraldine delos Santos-Lumbao, feted their daughter Pearl Kristine at the E-Crown Hotel ballroom recently in a joint celebration with their son RJ’s 21st birthday.
San Miguel Municipal Health Officer Dr. Lilian Olfindo, who was my former colleague at the Virac LGU in the early 2000s, and CatSU Prof. Joel Olfindo, also threw a party for their daughter Hannal Izabella.
Congratulations to the proud parents!
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At least three stories and an article were not accommodated in this issue, particularly the details of the meeting by Cong. Bong Teves, Gov. Boboy Cua, Vice Gov. Bos Te Cua and Virac Mayor Sammy Laynes with PhilFIDA officials headed by Regional Director Mary Anne Molina last Nov. 30 in San Andres. The stories will appear next week.
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THE INDIAN SCOUT. An old Wild West fort is about to be attacked. The wily old general sends for his trusty Indian scout. “You must use all your thirty years of skill in trying to estimate the sort of army we are up against here.”
The trusty Indian scout lies down and puts his ear to the ground. “Heap large war party,” he says, “maybe three hundred braves, four chiefs, two on black stallions, two on white stallions. All have war paint. Many many guns. Medicine man also with them.”
“Good grief!” exclaims the general. “You can tell all of that just by listening to the ground?”
“No,” replies the Indian, “I can see under the gate.”