Aug.

6,2009
I’m Giving Priority To Income-Generating Projects, Education-Samaco
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-I am giving priority to income-generating projects and

education that are both beneficial to the city and to the people.
This was the essence of Maasin Mayor Maloney Samaco’s discussions with the
local media during a press conference held at the new Philippine Information
Agency (PIA) office located at the new reclamation area in brgy. Combado here in
this nine-year old city this coming August 10, 2009. The new PIA office is a
walking distance from the new wet market and the city bus terminal.
He explained that the income-generating projects like the wet and dry market
and the establishment of mall in the new reclamation would be more beneficial to
both the city and the people. He said the income from these projects would augment
the city’s IRA share needed in the improvement of the place.
Hr informed that Gaisano management has expressed their interest to construct
a commercial building at the new reclamation area, but there was a deadlock on the
deal. He said Gaisano is still interested to renegotiate with the city government
on the term of monthly rentals.
“Gaisano wants a similar rental to that of theirTacloban branch which they
have enjoyed for the past years”, he said.”However,he cannot agree with their
request, he said. He implied the city under his leadership is in need of some
revenues to augment its income for other services and to fund future projects of
the city.
He said another interested parties are the City Square, a Manila-based
business and businesswoman Amalia Yap of Sogod town. He said the owner of JYSMI
mall also wants to put up a commercial building at the reclaim area. There’s a
local businessman also who want to buy a lot at the reclamation. The businessman
said he prefers to own the lot before he will construct a building for his
business. Samaco said he will still consult the City Council if they are agreeable
to the businessman’s idea.
When asked by the press what would be his perception why there are several
building constructions going on in this new city, he responded by saying that most
probably these businessmen who are behind the constructions are optimistic that
business here can be actively improved despite the global economic turmoil.

Education, Courses
On the part of education, he pointed out that the Maasin City College (MCC) of
which he is the Founding Chairman and its current President, would not be offering
similar courses offered by the 2 private schools like the St. Joseph College(SJC)
and the College of Maasin(CM).”The new Maasin City College will not be competing
with the 2 private schools which regards to courses. We’ll be offering courses
that are not available in the 2 private schools”, he said.
The MCC with much lower tuition fees compare to the 2 aforementioned colleges
is offering courses like BS Public Administration, BS Social Work, BS Agriculture,
and BS Tourism. Computer courses as expected by some students here will not be
offered by MCC. “We do not want to compete with them,” the Mayor said.
Samaco strongly emphasized that MCC’s scholarship program offered to sons and
daughters of barangay officials will continue as long as he is the Mayor of
Maasin.
Regarding the stoppage of construction of the unfinished gymnasium, use from
time to time as venues of either concerts, city events or private affairs by some
government and NGO organizations, could just wait for sometime, he implied. He
said he will consult Congressman Roger Mercado concerning the unfinished gymnasium
if he can still provide additional funds for its continued construction until its
completion.

Basketball Tournament, Other Activities

With regards to the inter-town basketball tournament, which is one of the
activities prior to the culmination of the Charter Day celebration on Aug. 10,
2009, he clarified that he’s considering the requests/ suggestions of some
basketball team leaders to exclude the Maasin Team from participating in the
coming sports event.
The young-looking Mayor disclosed that Maasin basketball team was the overall
champion during the inter-town basketball tournament held in Sogod about a month
ago.”Sulti nila nga dili nalang kuno paapilon ang Maasin Team kay basin ug mapilde
napod sila, hilabina kay dinhi sa ilang homecourt magduwa”, he told the local
media in Cebuano.(They(team leaders) said that Maasin Team should be excluded from
participating in the inter-town basketball tournament because the same team might
win again in the game especially since they will be playing in their homecourt.).
He said the towns that will participate in the three-day inter-town basketball
tournament at the city gymnasium are Macrohon, Limasawa, Malitbog, Tomas Oppus,
Bontoc, Sogod, St.Benard and Liloan. First prize is P75, 000.00; second prize is
P50, 000.00 and the third prize is P25, 000.00 and with trophy for each winners.
For the table and lawn tennis games for the youngsters there will be no cash
prizes but only medals, he said.
Likewise, the tennis competitions among adult players participated in by all the
tennis clubs in the city will only be a friendship tournament..

On the other hand, the Pabulhon Festival and garden show which will open on
the eve of the Charter Day will feature side by side with the agri-aqua fair some
dances from both the fishermen and the farmers.
Agricultural and aquatic products are on display as part of an exhibition.
Contest among the uniqueness in the
bigness of different products will possibly be held also like in the past. There
are also pabulhon games.
Other activities prior to the culmination of Charter Day celebration were as
follow, among others,are:SK-MCC-MCYF Night, volleyball and chess tournaments,
ballroom dancing, cooperatives night,BSP-KABS Olympics, mountain bike
competitions, badminton and taekwondo tournaments, Ms. Maasin 2009 beauty and
brain comtest,special friends get-together.
On Charter Day there will be an anniversary parade, awarding of outstanding
Maasinhons, Drum and Bugle competition, cheerdancing exhibition-SJC HS Team and
anniversary ball.

Abaca Revitalization
Speaking of the dying abaca industry in the province wiped out by the attack
of the airborne bunchy top virus, the Mayor claimed that the farmers of Sogod have
expressed their optimism that the abaca industry can still be revived with the
help of the plant experts. The farmers who are in need of technical assistance
from the experts further believed that the sharing of knowhow from these
knowledgeable people can help in the revitalization of the dollar-earner abaca
industry in the province.Sogod was one of the municipalities planted to many
hectares of abaca whose plantations were wiped out by the pests.
Furthemore, the Engineer-turned-Mayor who is also an active sportswriter-
contributor of the Philboxing.com, informed that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
is scheduled to come to Maasin on Aug. 9,2009 for the inauguration of the newly-
finished wet market and the groundbreaking of the dry market In the past there
were 2 schedules of her visit here but were postponed due to some other official
concerns or othewise.However Mayor Samaco is hopeful that her coming here will
finally materialize.
It was also learned that the guest speaker of the Charter Day celebration on
Aug. 10, 2009 is DILG Secretary Rolando Puno.(Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.)