Hilongos town officials study Ormoc's system

ORMOC CITY, Philippines — Officials of Hilongos town in Leyte, led by Mayor Jose Emery Roble visited this city Wednesday to study the latter's system in handling business enterprises.

Roble told The FREEMAN that the successful business enterprises of the city government inspired the visit. "We are interested in the more advanced slaughterhouse, market and water systems of Ormoc," he said.

Roble clarified that Hilongos may not be able to replicate the building structures considering the different financial status of the two local government units, but he said: "Definitely we've learn something from our visit and will adopt the technologies and systems that we believed can improve our municipality."

Ormoc and Hilongos have abundant water sources. While city residents however are paying only P3.50 per cubic meters, the town's constituents are burdened by P61 per cu.m. rate, which is incidentally the highest in the entire country.

City Mayor Eric Codilla, in welcoming the guests, emphasized the importance of efficiency in government service as the key to success.

"Department heads, supervisors and head of offices should perform their assigned duties and be responsible enough to heed the call of the local chief executive," he said. "Do not saddle your mayor with petty things that can be resolved within your level so he can focus more on matters affecting the general public whose welfare we are sworn to protect."

Located in the southwestern part of Leyte, the town of Hilongos has 51 barangays, ranks second to Ormoc for the busiest port in terms of passenger traffic and fourth in cargoes throughout Region 8.

Accompanying Roble in the city visit were legal counsel Ma. Lourdes Vilbar, Councilors Reynaldo Badilla, Lemuel Jan Nerves and Lamberto Flanco, municipal assessor Belshazar Ruiz, municipal treasurer Enriqueta Zamora, accountant Leizelda Remedio, planning and development officer Catherine Fabular, and mayor's office personnel Brian Flores and Lizette Lesigues Notarte. The market supervisor and administrative officer were also with them. - THE FREEMAN