Mercado Signs Moa With Evu Officials,gtz

Sept. 10,2009 Mercado Signs MOA With VSU Officials, GTZ By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr. Maasin City, Southern Leyte-Congressman Roger Mercado during his58th birthday anniversary celebration recently has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Dr. Jose Bocosmo, David Manawong both of the Visayas State University (formerly VISCA) in Baybay, Leyte and a GTZ representative at the newly-finished P2.5M brgy. Bugo covered court here in this small city. VSU’s Dr. Bocosmo told the crowd inside the steel-structured covered court that the MOA’s implementing systems has 5 major components:1)Capability building; 2)Intensifying reforestation program; 3)Quality seedling production and barangay seedling plantations;4)Organic fertilizer production;5)Sustainable aggregate livelihood. He said that the Visayas State University has supported the program and strongly urged that all those who were involved should do their parts/duties and responsibilities in order for them to reach their objective. Bocosmo further said that the project will be monitored from time to time. It will also be periodically evaluated to see how their joint efforts have progressed. Manawong for his part, who is the head of VSU’s Institute for Environmental Governance, disclosed that he has given forest seedlings that are species of the native trees to be planted to different barangays of the city as part of the MOA’s implementing programs. The program as perceived will provide livelihood for the barangay folks who are involved in the implementation of the new Memorandum of Agreement by practicing its 5 major components stipulated therein. Earlier, the solon’s birthday celebration was highlighted by a tree planting activity. It was led by the Congressman himself and participated in, among others, by some youth, barangay folks and officials, city hall employees, some SK members. After the tree planting, a Mass was held in honor of the birthday celebrant. Officiated by priest Celso Rojas the blessing of the newly-finished steel structured covered court has followed. The birthday celebration was capped with singing and group dancing. The public appearance of a harp musical instrument at the stage rarely seen nowadays, has struck a delight among music lovers. An unidentified Cebuano guest-instrumentalist has skillfully rendered an instrumental number of 2 popular songs of Barry Manillow to the great amusement of the audience. The seven-hour event was attended by barangay tanods (barrio guards), some Brgy. Captains, brgy.Councilors, City Councilors led by Vice- Mayor Effie AbieraSabandal, some barangay folks. Also present were Mayor Maloney Samaco, some city hall employees, SP members led by Governor Damian Mercado, and Vice-Governor Miguel Maamo, 11, some municipal Mayors and media practitioners, some members of the Karancho organization, friends and some relatives.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)