PALO, Leyte (PIA) -- President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Thursday led the unveiling of the marker of the new Leyte Provincial Capitol and turned over various government projects in Region 8 in a ceremonial program held at the new Leyte Provincial Government Complex in Brgy. Guindapunan, Palo, Leyte.
He was assisted by Senator Bong Go, Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario, Agrarian Reform Secretary Bernie Cruz, and Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino, among other government officials.
The new Leyte Provincial Government Complex, nestled within the 14-hectare property of the Province of Leyte, will serve as the new permanent office of all the departments of the provincial government from its old Provincial Capitol in Tacloban City.
The construction of the Leyte Provincial Government Complex began in January 21, 2020 and will be completed on April 20, 2022.
The building was constructed out of necessity after the old capitol building sustained structural damage due to storm surge when super typhoon Yolanda struck Tacloban on November 8, 2013 followed by the 6.4 earthquake in July 23, 2019.
On the same event, the President also led the partial turnover of completed housing units to some 458 former rebels and their families who are now living at the Leyte Peace and Prosperity Village located at Sitio Limite, Barangay Daja Daku, San Isidro, Leyte with a total land area of 119 hectares.
In his speech, the President called anew all the remaining members of the New People’s Army to surrender while he is still the President of the country.
“Tell them to surrender, they will be accepted the moment they surrender,” the President said in Cebuano.
He likewise distributed Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) to representatives of the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries.
Prior to the unveiling of the new Leyte Capitol, the President briefly visited Tacloban City where he led the inauguration of the 6.405 km. Tacloban City Bypass Road which was completed under his Build, Build, Build Program through the Department of Public Works and Highways and funded by the national government.
The road, which was constructed along Daang Maharlika, connects Brgy. Nula-Tula and Caibaan and other parts of the city and nearby areas that will improve road network efficiency and help easy access to the City of Tacloban, the center of commerce in the Eastern Visayas region. (LDL/CBA/PIA-8)
