CLARIN.-Today’s town fiesta in this coastal municipality is made more vibrant with the sight of rising infrastructures pushed under the administration of Mayor Ray Allen Piezas. At least three big projects are either under construction and rehabilitation while an expansion of the Clarin wharf has just been completed. Ushering today’s fiesta celebration is the pontifical mass at 10AM. The main celebrant is The Most Reverend Leonardo Medroso, D.D., bishop of the diocese of Tagbilaran, with all visiting priests serving as concelebrants. Earlier at 7:00AM, homegrown Bishop Jesus Tuquib, D.D., will preside over the first mass assisted by Rev. Fr. Elias Algarbe, parish priest.

CLARIN UNDER MAYOR PIEZAS

Considered as the youngest mayor Clarin ever had, Piezas at 43, sees to it that he will leave an indelible imprint in the town once he will vow out as Clarin mayor. He is on his second term and at the rate he steers the wheels of Clarin’s development, there’s no denying that he will carve his own niche in local governance. The timing is never been perfect for Mayor Piezas’ development agenda as the town marks today the feast of St. Michael Archangel, the town patron saint. In today’s fiesta, visitors, balikbayans and guests will be impressed in the town’s changing physical landscape. One noticeable structure that greets the eyes of any Clarin visitor is the two-storey public market replacing the old one built in 1988. It was to the credit of Mayor Piezas that the new market was constructed after he convinced the Sangguniang Bayan to authorize him to contract a loan of P34 million with the Land Bank of the Phils. Once completed, the market will have 38 rentable spaces resulting in additional revenue for the town. Modern by any standard, the Clarin market will have a setback requirement to serve as parking spaces for buses and jeepneys during day time. By night time, the parking space becomes a beehive of activities as it will be converted into a barbeque plaza. An assessment of the market construction was placed at 15 percent accomplishment. The market is another project of Engr. Christopher Tutor, mayor of Candijay mayor.

PORT EXPANSION

Acting as a principal player in the town’s ambition of tapping its geographical resources like its proximity to a regional hub like Cebu City, Mayor Piezas is laying the groundwork to develop the local port. With P5 million funding from the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Mayor Piezas pushed for the expansion of the local wharf to accommodate more ferry vessels plying the Clarin-Cebu route. Lite Shipping is fielding a cargo ship to serve the route. It was through the efforts of then congressman Erico Aumentado that the DOTC budget was allotted to the Clarin wharf.

HOSPITAL UPGRADE

Never been in the history of Clarin than during the incumbency of Mayor Piezas that the Clarin Community Hospital was given prominent attention. With a P5 million outlay, the hospital was undergoing an upgrade of its 15-bed capacity. The fund came from the Department of Health. Also under construction is an administration building worth P9 million courtesy of the provincial government. In the drawing board is a P10 million allocation from the DOH for the community hospital to build additional rooms. The money will also be used in the upgrade and construction of lab rooms, pharmacy, x-ray and delivery rooms. Other projects under the Piezas administration were a P1.7 irrigation project from the Department of Agriculture in Poblacion Sur-Candajic; and a P3 million training center for barangay health workers. The training center will also be used by Community Health Team Partners.