Myanmar leader to visit Bantayan

CEBU, Philippines - Myanmar President Thein Sein is set to visit typhoon-stricken Bantayan Island tomorrow, according to the Capitol.

No Malacañang officials are reported to join the Burmese leader, who will arrive at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport tomorrow morning.

He will be met by Gov. Hilario Davide III, Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza and daughter, lone district Rep. Aileen Radaza, MCIA general manager Nigel Paul Villarete; Major Gen. Romeo Poquiz of the 2nd Air Division, Philippine Air Force, and Police Regional Office-7 Director Danilo Constantino.

Capitol information officer Ethel Natera said that from MCIA, President Thein and party will fly on a chopper to Santa Fe in Bantayan Island.

They will be welcomed by Mayor Jose Esgana of Santa Fe, Mayor Ian Christopher Escario of Bantayan and Mayor Salvador dela Fuente of Madridejos.

Natera said a briefing with President Thein will be held at the Santa Fe airport.

She said there was no information on what assistance the Myanmar government will give to Bantayan Island.

Natera said President Thein will fly back to Mactan then to Myanmar tomorrow afternoon.

"Sta. Fe is his only destination in Cebu," Natera told The FREEMAN.

Among the badly affected livelihoods in Bantayan Island is the egg industry as all poultry farms were wiped out by the typhoon.

Considered the "egg basket" in the Visayas, Bantayan Island produces more than 100 tons of eggs or 1.6 million eggs per day.

But the Department of Agriculture and Cebu Bakery Association clarified that there has been no report of the scarcity of eggs in the market.

DA recently convened with livestock groups and egg vendors and found out that there is a stable supply of eggs and there was no price increase in the market.

Bantayan Island accounts for 80 percent of the egg supply in Cebu province.

Cebu produces 35,440 metric tons of eggs a year, of which 28,352 metric tons come from Bantayan alone.

Other egg suppliers are San Fernando and Argao in southern Cebu and Northern Mindanao, particularly Cagayan de Oro City.

Also affected by the typhoon is the tourism industry in Bantayan Island, a premier tourist destination in Cebu.

Immediate repair

The Provincial Board had requested the Cebu Port Authority to immediately repair the damaged loading ramp and terminal building of the Port of Santa Fe.

Board Member Jose Ribomapil Holganza Jr. reported that the destruction of the second loading ramp had delayed the flow of relief assistance.

Holganza, who hails from Bantayan town, said because of the damaged terminal buildings, passengers had to wait outside before they can board ferries bound for the mainland.

"The state of this repair of the facilities in the port in Santa Fe will have an impact in the recovery and rehabilitation of Bantayan Island," Holganza added.

A copy of the PB resolution, which Holganza sponsored, will be furnished to Malacañang through Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras. -/LPM (FREEMAN)