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Simple ra man ang gusto natong mahitabo. Gusto nato nga ang atong economic services makatubag sa panginahanglano sa atong mga kliyente, accessible o on-line na para dili na sila magbalik-balik. Ang atong pangagamhanan gusto nato participatory kay dili man nato pwedeng idikta ang atong gusto mao nga kinahanglan g’yud ‘tang mangutana. Ang atong mga katawhan gusto nato nga healthy o maayo ang panglawas ug maka-contribute sa atong komunidad inay nga magsalig sa mga dole out gikan sa gobyerno kay dili man kini malahutayon.

Mao kini ang gitataw ni Baybay City Mayor Hon. Jose Carlos L. Cari atol sa gipahigayon nga “Finalization of the Risk-informed Local Development Investment Plan (LDIP), Project Brief Formulation of Climate and Disaster Risk Assessment (CRDA), and Comprehensive Development Plan + (CDP+) 2023-2028.”

Tungod niini, gilantaw ni Mayor Cari nga maghimo na og ilang kaugalingon nga Facebook Page ang nagkadaiyang mga buhatan sa Baybay City LGU diin ilang ibutang ang mga programa ug serbisyo sa ilang buhatan aron masayran kini sa mga katawhan. Hinuon, matud pa niya nga kinahanglan nga naka-link kini sa official facebook page sa Baybay City LGU nga mao ang Baybay City Updates.

Gilantaw usab ni Mayor Cari nga ikatanyag na on-line ang mga serbisyo sa nagkadaiyang mga buhatan sa Baybay City LGU aron kalikayan ang pagbalik-balik sa ilang mga kliyente.

Nagkanayon usab si Mayor Cari nga gisugdan na karong tuiga ang paghimo og mga supplementary foods and milk products gikan sa mga kamote ug mao unya kini ang gamiton sa nutrition program sa dakbayan sa Baybay aron padayon nga mokunhod ang gidaghanon sa mga malnourished nga mga kabataan dinhi sa dakbayan sa Baybay. Padayon usab nga gihan-ay ang serbisyo sa panglawas sa dakbayan sa Baybay aron dili na unya kinahanglan nga muadto pa sa layong dapit ang mga Baybayanon alang sa serbisyo sa mga eksperto sa panglawas.

Samtang, pinaagi sa Comprehensive Agriculture and Fishery Program sa Baybay City LGU diin gidasig ang mga tag-iya sa mga walay gamit nga mga yuta aron tamnan og mga utanon o himuon nga fishponds diin ang Baybay City LGU ang mag-traktor o magpakubkob ug mohatag sa tanan nga gikinahanglan nga inputs ug technical assistance, gilantaw ni Mayor Cari nga inanay nga molambo ang panginabuhi sa mga mag-uuma, mananagat, kababayen-an, kabataan ug uban pang mga sektor sa katilingban, aron inay nga magsalig sila sa mga ayuda gikan sa kagamhanan, makatabang na hinuon sila sa paglambo sa ilang kaugalingon, sa ilang organisasyon ug sa ilang komunidad.

Nunot niini, nagpasalamat si Mayor Cari tungod kay matud pa niya nga kauban niya ang tanan nga mga nangulo sa mga buhatan sa Lokal nga Kagamhanan sa dakbayan sa Baybay sa pagkab-ot niining maong mga panglantaw hinungdan nga mahitabo gayud kining tanan. (Marissa M. Cano, City Information Officer, Baybay City, Leyte)

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The Department of Agriculture Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) dubbed as the Baybay City Barangay Water System Development Project for the  City Government of Baybay is a priority project of the Baybay City Mayor Hon. Jose Carlos L. Cari.

This was reiterated by City Administrator Atty. Florante A. Cayunda Jr. during the project briefing with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 8 Team headed by headed by Assistant Regional Technical Director (ARTD) Atty. Dario Suarez attended.

Atty. Cayunda said that the water system in the South District Barangays of the City of Baybay has been a long-standing problem of both the residents and the city. “The city has undertaken several projects to solve this problem but these were not enough, and were sadly affected by typhoon Agaton.” added Atty. Cayunda.

OIC City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Engr. Gretel Cabrito revealed, during the briefing, that the Baybay City Barangay Water System Development Project for the  City Government of Baybay intends to solve the water sanitation and hygiene-related challenges  in the South District of the city, to make a more climate and disaster-resilient water system structures that can withstand calamity, and to improve the quality of life of the city’s constituents by enhancing access to potable water.

According to Engr. Cabrito, this project will serve more than 30,000 (30,572) residents from Barangays Plaridel, Maslug, Bitanhuan, Maitum, Punta, Jaena, Sabang and Palhi.

The total project cost is P164,353,374.82, eighty percent (80%) of which will come from the World Bank, while both the National Government and the Local Government Unit of Baybay City will shoulder P16.4 M each to complete the said water system project. (Marissa M. Cano, City Information Officer, Baybay City, Leyte)

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Even during the time of the pandemic, all primary health care services of the City of Baybay continued to serve its constituents – Level II Clinical Laboratory, Pharmacy (Botika ng Bayan), Birthing Facility, Dental facility, a Diagnostic Facility with X-ray, ECG, and Ultra Sound, which are found in different locations at the moment, and in the middle of 2021, the City of Baybay opened to the public the services of the Immaculate Conception Hospital (ICH) located at the Diversion Road in Barangay Cogon, Baybay City, Leyte.

Through the joint efforts of 5^th Congressional District Representative Congressman Carl Nicolas C. Cari, Baybay City Mayor Hon. Jose Carlos L. Cari, Vice Mayor Atty. Ernesto M. Butawan, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Baybay, the Department of Health (DOH), and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), the ICH has the needed facilities, utilities, and equipment to provide the appropriate medical intervention to its patients.

Just lately, the ICH acquired the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scanner and a brand new Ultra-Sound Machine. Moreover, the hospital is now awaiting for the delivery of the Computed Tomography (CT) Scan, all in support of Baybay City LGU’s Health Program.

According to Mayor Cari, the construction of the Super Health Center will commence this month and hopefully will be able to provide health services to the public as early as next year. And if allowed by the DOH, the much-awaited Blood Bank or Blood Collecting Unit will soon be established in the City of Baybay.

City Health Officer Dr. Oja, on the other hand, said that with the establishment of the Super Health Center, the City of Baybay will be compliant to DOH Administrative Order No. 20-0047 which mandates all primary health care services must be located in only one facility.

Finally, Mayor Cari said that, “Our services may not be perfect, but it cannot be denied that our hospital has been providing health services not only to Baybayanons but also to patients from the different municipalities of Leyte and Southern Leyte and we must be proud about that.” (Marissa M. Cano, City Information Officer, Baybay City, Leyte)

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“Tungod sa kalisod sa ekonomiya karon, tabangi ‘sab ang inyong kaugalingon. Kon sa una, mo-inom ‘ta, magsugal ug manigarilyo, ato usang putlon ang atong mga bisyo ug unahon nato ang atong pamilya, ilabi na kon naa ‘tay mga anak.”

Mao kini ang gipalanog ni City Vice Mayor Atty. Ernesto M. Butawan atubangan sa mga transport groups ‘ning dakbayan sa wala pa sugdi ang distribution of food packs sa miaging Sabado (Septiyembre 10, 2022).

Matud pa ni Vice Mayor Butawan nga kinahanglan nga hatagan og dako nga pagtagad sa mga ginikanan ang pag-iskuwela sa ilang mga anak, ilabi na karon nga libre na ang pag-iskuwela sa elementary, sa high school ug sa college. “Wala nay rason kon nganong dili pa maka-iskuwela ang atong mga anak, ilabi na nga may gitanyag usab nga scholarship ang Baybay City LGU,” dugang pa ni Vice Mayor Butawan.

Atol sa maong kalihokan gibutyag usab ni Vice Mayor Butawan nga aduna nay MRI Scanner ug Ultra Sound sa bag-ong ospital karon ug nga sa dili madugay muabot na ‘sab ang CT Scan. Apan gumikan sa kamahal niini nga kahimanan (P50M) ug sa kadako sa galastuhan kay 24 oras man ang air conditioning niini, may balayranan ang mga mogamit niini apan himuan pa kini og ordinansa sa Sangguniang Panlungsod ‘ning dakbayan.

Gipasabot usab niya nga nag-Ground-breaking Ceremony na sa tukuron nga Super Health Center sa nahimutangan sa daan nga ospital aron kahatagan og mas maayong serbisyo sa panglawas ang mga Baybayanon ug ang mga molupyo sa kasikbit nga mga lungsod. Kini tungod kay ibutang na sa usa ka lugar ang tanan nga primary health care facilities sa dakbayan – Pharmacy, Clinical Laboratory, Birthing Facility, Dental Facility ug Blood Collecting Unit, kon itugot kini sa Department of Health (DOH).

Nunot niini, matud pa ni Vice Mayor Butawan nga kon nanginano ang gobyerno sa kaayuhan sa ilang tagsa-tagsa ka mga pamilya, pinaagi sa mga gihan-ay ngamga programa ug serbisyo sa dakbayan, mas kinahanglan nga ila kining buhaton.

Nagkanayon usab ni Atty. Butawan nga nasayod ang Lokal nga Kagamhanan sa dakbayan sa Baybay nga dili paigo ang gihatag nga food packs kanila matag tulo ka bulan, “Apan maayo nalang kini aron maka-iban sa inyong kalisdanan kay maoy tinguha sa atong lungsod nga kon naa may inyong ibayad nga buhis sa atong gobyerno, amo ‘ning ibalik pinaagi sa mga programa, serbisyo, ug mga ayuda.” (Marissa M. Cano, City Information Officer, Baybay City, Leyte)

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“Now is the time to really invest in our health care system. Indeed, this is a great milestone not only for your province but also for our country’s health care system. Through establishing facilities like this, I am confident that we can provide the best services and quality facilities for the benefit of the Filipinos.”

This was the recorded message of Senator Christopher Laurence “Bong” Go during the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Construction of Baybay City’s Super Health Center held on September 9, 2022.

Baybay City Mayor Hon. Jose Carlos L. Cari, during his message, revealed that the construction of the Super Health Center in Baybay City would commence this month but this will be an expanded Super Health Center because if the Department of Health will allow it, a Blood Collecting Unit (BCU) with additional functions will also be part of the center. To this, Department of Health (DOH) Assistant Regional Director Rodolfo Antonio M. Albornoz said that he and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Antonio Ida will inform Regional Director Exuperia B. Sabalberino regarding Baybay City LGU’s plan to establish a BCU as part of the Super Health Center.

Mayor Cari also thanked the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) for being ever supportive and for providing additional funds of six million pesos (P6M) for the needed machines and equipment in the Super Health Center. ARD Albornoz commended Baybay City LGU for allocating additional funds for the said project, “This shows the commitment of the Baybay City LGU for providing quality health services.”

ARD Albornoz explained that the Super Health Center is a primary care facility with Pharmacy, Clinical Laboratory, Birthing Facility, and Dental Facility. To this, Congressman Carl Nicolas C. Cari added that he is delighted that the Construction of the Super Health Center was included in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for this year. He added that he is glad that another Super Health Center will soon be constructed in Bato, Leyte, and another one later in Inopacan, Leyte.

Vice Mayor Atty. Ernesto M. Butawan, on the other hand, said that “I am happy to grace this occasion and to be a part of this momentous event showing that Baybay City has raised the bar of public health service in this part of the province, making sure that all resources and taxes collected by the City are allocated to programs and services for the general welfare not only of Baybayanons but also that of the neighboring towns.”

Finally, City Health Officer Dr. Oja said that DOH Administrative Order No. 20-0047 mandates that all primary health care services must be located in only one facility. The Super Health Center will make this possible. “We have a Level II Clinical Laboratory, Pharmacy (Botika ng Bayan), Birthing Facility, Dental facility, and a Diagnostic Facility with X-ray, ECG, and Ultra Sound but these are found in different locations at the moment,” added Dr. Oja. (Marissa M. Cano, City Information Officer, Baybay City, Leyte)

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The past three (3) years was not easy for the newly-elected local officials of the City of Baybay and its constituents. The City has just started the construction of major infrastructure projects in the city proper but this was hindered by the pandemic. The construction of the barangay projects continued, even though they were also affected by restrictions due to pandemic. However, most of them were completed and were formally turned over to the barangays.

There was a time when people complained about the strict protocols implemented by the city against COVID-19 but they were silenced by the impact of the said protocols because it took some time for COVID-19 to have an adverse effect in the City of Baybay. This affected the local economy, which was later on opened through the cooperation of the Baybayanons and the entrepreneurs who heeded the call for massive vaccination against COVID-19.

This was not an easy task because the people has been bombarded with fake news against the vaccine. Still the Local Vaccination Operation Center (LVOC) managed to hit its target per category, thru the policies implemented by the City Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (City IATF-MEID).

Then came typhoon Odette which damaged a lot of houses and livelihoods.  The City of Baybay, thru the leadership of City Mayor Hon, Jose Carlos L. Cari was in the forefront of all efforts to rise above the impacts of typhoon Odette. Another typhoon came (TS Agaton)which according to Mayor Cari was different from all the other typhoons that hit the city because it rendered two (2) barangays unsafe for human dwelling. Yet, after almost four (4) months, forty (40) families have already been transferred to the relocation site. To date, the construction of the housing units for the displaced families continues.

Both the pandemic and the typhoons affected the city’s agriculture and fisheries program but thru the concerted efforts of the concerned offices, farmers and fisherfolks, the produce are now being sold at the Bagsakan Center. This is located across the Baybay City Public Market, where farm products are sold at farm gate prices.

Around 50 upland fishponds were also established and to sustain its production the city also established a Mini Tilapian Hatchery in Sitio Cienda, Barangay Gabas, Baybay City, Leyte.

Truly, the City of Baybay has gone a long way and will go further in fulfilling its vision of Baybay City, a progressive and resilient city, living in a healthy environment. (Marissa M. Cano, City Information Officer, Baybay City, Leyte)

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Forty (40) housing units for the survivors of Barangay Kantagnos of this city have already been turned over and occupied by the most vulnerable families of the said barangay. They underwent training on fire prevention and suppression and were mandated to manage their wastes.

According to Baybay City Mayor Hon. Jose Carlos L. Cari, “The construction of the next 32 temporary housing units in Barangay Maganhan is currently ongoing and when this is almost done, it was agreed during the coordinating meeting to immediately start the construction of the remaining 72 temporary housing units to complete the housing units for the residents of Barangay Kantagnos, all courtesy of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).”

He revealed this during the payout of the cash assistance from the International Federation of Red Cross, thru Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Senator Richard “Dick” Gordon for the almost five hundred survivors of Typhoon Agaton from Barangays Maypatag, Kantagnos, and Mailhi.

Mayor Cari also revealed that the International Organization for Migration (IOM) committed to constructing temporary housing units for the TS Agaton survivors in Barangay Maypatag. He said that the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), headed by Vice Mayor Atty. Ernesto M. Butawan, already gave him the authority to purchase a lot for the relocation of the affected families but the initial cost of the land was too high.

However, Mayor Cari revealed that after several negotiations with the Legal Team, the land owner agreed to sell the land at an affordable price, “Thus, rest assured that the City Government will purchase a lot where temporary housing units will be constructed for the affected residents of Barangay Maypatag so that they may vacate the classroom that currently serves as their temporary shelter.”

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On the other hand, Mayor Cari revealed that the construction of the permanent housing units in Barangay Higulo-an, for the TS Agaton survivors from Barangay Mailhi commenced last week. Thus, he thanked the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) of the City of Baybay for approving the funds he requested for the construction of the initial permanent housing units (Phase I) in the said relocation site. He added that he requested additional funds from the Sangguniang Panlungsod for the second phase of the said project.

Mayor Cari also revealed that Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla and the San Miguel Corporation representatives have visited the area and promised to provide funds for additional permanent housing units thus, hopefully, the needed number of housing units will soon be completed.

Finally, Mayor Cari explained that it was his decision, together with the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Baybay, to construct permanent, instead of temporary, housing units in Barangay Higulo-an because based on observation, the temporary housing units built for victims of disaster usually become permanent housing in the end. (Marissa M. Cano, City Information Officer, Baybay City, Leyte)

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Almost five hundred survivors of Typhoon Agaton from Barangays Maypatag, Kantagnos, and Mailhi received financial assistance just recently from the International Federation of Red Cross, thru Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Senator Richard “Dick” Gordon.

During his message Baybay City Mayor Hon. Joe Carlos L. Cari thanked the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) for being one of the first to arrive immediately after typhoon Agaton struck the city which resulted to landslides, damage of properties and loss of lives. He said that as early as April 11, 2022 their paramedics, doctors, and service vehicles were already in the City of Baybay to provide assistance to the fullest.

Mayor Cari said that, “In behalf of the city government of Baybay, I am expressing our gratitude to PRC for responding first and for responding well. The help you have extended was much needed by our constituents here in Baybay City.”

He also thanked the PRC for the financial assistance that they provided to around five hundred residents of the City of Baybay. “What you are extending will mean so much and rest assured that with the help of the Sangguniang Panlungsod and the City Social Welfare and Development Office, this will go a long way,” added Mayor Cari.

It could be recalled that Typhoon Agaton displaced these families rendering either their houses or their barangay unsafe for inhabitants. The recipients of the cash assistance from PRC are still living in the Evacuations Centers (schools) and are striving to live a normal life.

In relation to this, Mayor Cari thanked the Management of the Department of Education Baybay City Division, headed by Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Carmelino P. Bernadas for continuously allowing them to occupy the school buildings despite the start of the limited face-to-face classes.

Baybay City’s City Social Welfare and Development Officer Dr. Manuel Icon Donaire, on the other hand, thank all the donors who continuously help them get through this difficult times. However, he said that it would be best for the surviving families if the donors will give their donations in cash, instead of in kind, so that they may use it to purchase what their family really need. (Marissa M. Cano, City Information Officer, Baybay City, Leyte)

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The delivery of prime commodities and food products was limited by the strict health protocols implemented due to the pandemic way back 2020.  Thus, Baybay City Mayor Hon. Jose Carlos L. Cari, with the approval of the Sangguniang Panlungsod and thru the City Agriculture Office, implemented the Comprehensive Agriculture and Fishery Program to guarantee food security in the City of Baybay.

The technicians were mandated to look for vacant lots that may be developed into either tilapia fishpond or into a vegetable production site, identify the owners and encourage them to avail of the program of the city.

Under the Comprehensive Agriculture and Fishery Program, interested farmers or fish farmers must group themselves into at least five (5), undergo the corresponding training before the Baybay City LGU prepares the land and provides all the needed inputs and technical assistance to ensure the income of the farmers or the farm fishers. Then, during the harvest, the CAO collects the data such as the volume of the produce and the total sales but the income is given to the farmers and the farm fishers as a starting capital.

According to City Agriculturist Ms. Mora Abarquez, many Baybayanons come to their office to avail of this program thus they arranged the schedule of the services of the tractor operator on a first come, first served basis after the concerned Agricultural Technician had inspected the area.

Indeed, Mayor Cari’s program for agriculture saved the day during the time of the pandemic as residents from the different municipalities come to Baybay City to avail of essential goods then. However, he is hopeful that all these efforts will be sustained by the leaders of the organizations whom the city had assisted. (Marissa M. Cano, City Information Officer, Baybay City, Leyte)

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On September 2, 2022, project managers from the Dredging & Survey Department of the Philippine Port Authority (PPA) Head Office and representatives from MAC Builders met with LGU Baybay City Officials led by City Mayor Jose Carlos L. Cari to discuss PPA’s plans and timeframe for the removal of the sunken vessel currently submerged along the docking area of the Port of Baybay.

The vessel—damaged and sunk due to the tropical storm Agaton—has been submerged for almost five months now, disrupting port operations in the city. City Mayor Cari sought to expedite the removal of the submerged dredger to allow the full return of normal operations at the port.

Atty. Ernesto Butawan, City Vice Mayor, who also attended the meeting, suggested that contractors of PPA should provide the LGU with a definite timeframe because it has been months since said contractors have made several attempts at removing the submerged dredger. Vice Mayor Butawan also proposed that representatives from the LGU must conduct a series of ocular inspections at the port to check the progress of the extraction of the damaged dredger.

The contractors and the representatives from PPA assured the City Mayor that the sunken vessel will be extracted and removed from the port in two weeks’ time.