Infrastructure and Public Services

EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC SERVICES

PUBLIC MARKET / SLAUGHTERHOUSE

            The existing market in Catbalogan is a busy one, with goods coming from neighboring municipalities like Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas, Hinabangan, Daram, Zumarraga, San Sebastian, Tarangnan, Calbayog City, part of Eastern Samar Province and part of Leyte Province sell their goods in Catbalogan.  “Viajero” from Southern Tagalog, Davao City and Cagayan de Oro City also to sell their product particularly fruits.

            The existing public market is situated in one-hectare municipal lot.  It consists of main building for dry and wet section, and building surrounding the main building consists purely of dry market product.  There is an existing three-storey Catbalogan Commercial Complex (CCC) at the Public Market which features comfort rooms in every room, spacious food court, sufficient parking area and very accessible one, the stalls are now ready for leasehold right and rental.  The poor condition of existing market allows sidewalks vendors in the periphery of the market streets which sometimes causes minor traffic.

            Solid waste in the market is collected by a waiting garbage truck in the early morning of which garbage collectors; street cleaners in the market area dump their collected waste.  The drainage area in the public market is presently inadequate and causes minor floods during rainy days; likewise lighting fixture of the existing market is inadequate.

            Water supply in the market is being supplied by Catbalogan Water District.  However, Water District at present cannot meet the daily demand of the poblacion and with the lack of water fixture in the existing market.

            The existing slaughterhouse accredited by the National Meat Inspection Commission (Region VIII) is located about 500 meters away from the Public Market with more or less 100 sq. m. floor area.  At present, there is a plan to increase the area including the construction of corral to accommodate the present demand.  Water supply is likewise from the Catbalogan Water District.

            The public market is being supervised by a market supervisor with his staff, presently, there is no permanent office for this employees.  A police outpost in the market also exists to maintain peace and order in the area.

SANITATION

            A. WATER SUPPLY

            Water supply in Catbalogan is potable water supply agent with LUWA grossly inadequate.  It is presently provided by the Catbalogan Water District (CWD) which serves only 36.63% (1996) of the total population covered by the CWD, and they had an on-going rehabilitation of barangay waterworks project.

            B. SOLID WASTE

            The existing open dumpsite is situated beside the Cagutian Road in Brgy. Payao, 4.3 kilometers away from the poblacion.  It can be reached through the National Highway and passes through the barangay road.  The Payao- Cagutian road situated in a ravine besides the barangay road and considered as an open dumpsite.  About 40 cu. m. of solid waste are collected by two dump truck and two (2) compactor type truck.  Each truck has a capacity of 5 cu. m.  Two trips are conducted daily, one in the morning and the other one in the afternoon.  Out of this volume, 40% are domestic waste, 25% from commercial waste, 20% agricultural, and 15% from street sweeping and other sources.

            The municipality, at present is considering a landfill project that will substitute the current open dump site for garbage disposal, to minimize the intrusion of contaminated water to nearby potable water sources and contributes pollution from surface water run-off to the Maqueda Bay during rainy season.  However, the municipality is facing financial difficulties in developing such project.

            C. DRAINAGE

            The existing drainage system in Catbalogan is inadequate to carry surface run-off of the municipality.  Flooding in some parts of the poblacion are experienced during heavy rains due to unfunctioning drainage canals, including the market areas were drainage canals are not totally functioning.  The existing drainage system in the market area are clogged caused by various illegal construction of structures and the siltation of the main creek which serves as an outfall of various drainage canals of the poblacion.  At present, the DPWH started the construction of drainage passing through Brgy. Canlapwas for the Phase I project.  However, the said project is not yet completed.      

ROADS AND BRIDGES

            A. ROADS

            Catbalogan has a total road length of 69.12 kms.  This length consists of municipal roads 19.28 kms., provincial roads is 10.44 kms., barangay roads is 11.95 kms., and 27.45 kms. of national roads.  Of the 69.12 kms., 29 kms. is concreted, .80 km. is asphalted, 29.5 kms.  are gravel road and 9.827 kms. is unsurfaced (earthfill).

            Considering the total area of Catbalogan, the road density comes out to be about .37 kms. of road for every square kilometer.  The road density is very low considering that recommended road density is one (1) kilometer of road for every one square kilometer.  This is of course understandable because the rugged terrain of Catbalogan has served as a constraints to extensive road construction.  Thus, many of the barangays in the municipality are not connected with any roads.  There is an under construction Diversion Road which is about (1) kilometer for every (1) square meter and it is 4 kilometers away from Barangay Socorro to Barangay Maulong this is to be used to minimize traffic congestion in the poblacion.

            B. BRIDGES

            There are eight bridges within the jurisdiction of Catbalogan.  Three are municipal bridges, two are provincial and three are national bridges.  One national bridge is newly constructed for the diversion road to minimize traffic congestion in the poblacion.

            C. PORTS

            The Catbalogan Port is a national port and being managed by the Philippine Port Authority.  This is the hub of many commercial activities.  Passengers and goods, to and from Manila, Cebu and other trade centers of the country are usually channeled through this port.

            This is the only port in the island of Samar that caters vessels from Manila.

ENERGY AND COMMUNICATION

            A. POWER

            Catbalogan electrification facilities are being supplied by the Samar Electric Cooperative (SAMELCO II) under the supervision of the National Electrification Administration (NEA).

            SAMELCO II receives power from the Tongonan Geothermal Power Plant in Tongonan, Leyte (800 MW) to supply the municipality with the much needed electricity.  It also has a generating set capable of servicing the entire poblacion and selected barangays for 24 hours as an alternative power source during power failure from the Tongonan source.  Practically, not all the barangays in Catbalogan is being served especially in the interior barangays.

            B. COMMUNICATION

Communication Services

TRANSPORTATION

            A. ROAD TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

            The means of transportation within the municipality of Catbalogan are motorized tricycle and jeepneys.  In the poblacion, both motorized tricycle popularly known as pajero and pedicab tricycle serves to transport passengers and goods.  Cargo trucks and jeepneys are used to transport goods and other farm products in and out of the municipality.

            In traveling outside the municipality, jeeps and buses are being used.  There are about eight Manila –based buses plying the Pasay-Catbalogan route and other cities like Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Ormoc, Tacloban City and other municipalities in Region VIII and vice-versa, that passes through Catbalogan of an average number of seventy-four (74) trips daily.  These buses are namely, EDT, LIBERTY, PHILTRANCO, CEDEC, CUIDAD, BLTB, JANKA, CUL Transit and EAGLE STAR.

            B. BUS TERMINAL

            There is no existing Bus Terminal in Catbalogan except for a temporary terminal located at Pier I and the different gasoline stations and side streets of the poblacion. The Local Government Unit is looking for funding agency (private investors) to finance the construction of the said project to help minimize the traffic congestion in various streets caused by rapid increased in number of public utility vehicle entering Catbalogan.  The project likewise, will help generate employment and additional income for the municipality.  The proposed Bus Terminal targeted to be constructed in 1999 has not yet been realized due to some technical problems.

            C. AIR TRANSPORT

            Catbalogan is approximately 800 kilometers south of Manila, 107 and 80 kilometers from Tacloban City, and Calbayog City, respectively.  The Catbalogan “Buri” Airport for the past years has been improved.  However, the budget for this project is not sufficient to make the airport accessible and functional to commercial flights.  The completion of this project will not only eases the time of travel of local travelers but likewise, will boast the economic activities in Catbalogan and other nearby municipalities in Samar.

FIRE PROTECTION / PEACE AND ORDER / DISASTER COORDINATING COUNCIL

            The Catbalogan Philippine National Police (PNP) force has 62 uniformed personnel that provide protective services in the municipality. The Camp Lukban of the AFP situated in Brgy. Maulong, this municipality, is about two (2) kilometers from the poblacion where the Provincial Command of the PNP and the 8^th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army are located.

            The Town Fire Fighting Force has a total of five (5) firetrucks under the Phil. Fire Protection Bureau which has a 27 uniformed personnel and one (1) non-uniformed.  One fire truck and tankers are also available for firefighting from the Filipino-Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade who coordinates with the Philippine Fire Protection in the occurrence of this kind of disaster.  The town created the Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council with an aim to prevent if not to minimize tragedy in the municipality.

GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS

            A. EDUCATION

            Catbalogan has complete educational system complimented both public and private sector.  The bulk of school enrolment is handled by public schools.  The private schools serve the middle and the higher income group of the populace.

            Their respected satellite schools were located in the island of Barangays, and in the interior or mountains part of the Municipality.  There are existing Day Care Centers in almost all the fifty-seven (57) barangays in the municipality.  At present the LGU has a total of seventeen Day Care Workers funded by the LGU.  However, the Municipal Government is planning to increase the number of Day Care Workers to twenty-five (25) early in 1997 and to complete the numbers for the coming years.  There are also private Day Care/Nursery Schools in some barangays particularly in the urban areas which caters the middle and higher income group of the society.

            The Saint Mary's College of Catbalogan and Samar College (both private) offers complete educational curriculum and they concentrate on Academic courses.  The Samar Regional School of Fisheries, Samar State Polytechnic College (both public) offers Vocational, Technical & Post Graduate course (higher education). The sole educational institution that offers a secondary curriculum is the Samar National School.

            B. HEALTH

            Catbalogan’s existing health and medical facilities is adequate only for ordinary needs/problems of the populace.  The Samar Provincial Hospital is situated in the poblacion of the municipality, being the capital town of the Province of Samar.  The town also has Rural Health Unit with complete personnel and also Brgy. Health Stations in almost all barangays.  Presently, the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) is not totally equipped to meet the standard to serve the patients in the area. Sometimes, patients are referred to Tacloban City Hospitals for further check-up/consultations and medical need.

            C. HOUSING

            Being the capital town of Samar, Catbalogan has been facing problems on illegal squatters.  Although there are existing housing subdivisions in the locality, these subdivisions caters only to families with financial capabilities.  There is V & G Subdivision which caters government and private employee with permanent status.  The Municipal Government and the National Housing Authority signed a Memorandum of Agreement that has been set-up for the municipality.  Resettlement area for squatters is the immediate need of the town to decongest the urban center particularly the Pier I & II area which has the largest number of squatters, and without existing roads in case of disaster (e.g. fire, typhoons & etc.) will occur.  Squatters at creeks also hampers the cleaning program of the DPWH and the LGU which causes frequent flooding in various streets caused by the obstruction of the water flow which increase siltation of the creek and river.

NON-GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION 

The participation of NGO’s is visible in the municipality they generated not only development projects like infrastructure but as well as employment for the people in the municipality.  As mandated by the local government code of 1991, all councils in the LGU has the membership of NGO’s to promote wider partnership of LGU-NGO’s-PO’s.