Hawaii governor says West Maui to reopen to public on Oct. 8 --- Lalaine Ignao | TFC News Hawaii

The West Maui Region of Hawaii will reopen soon to the public. Hawaii Governor Josh Green announced that the area will once more welcome visitors starting Oct. 8, two months since the deadly wildfire in the island. Lahaina's displaced residents now anxiously await for what's in store for them, including one Filipino-American who has been hopping off from one place to another over the past month. "I'm starting to worry," said Debra Arellano. "I'm like, should I just wait it out? Have faith in Josh Green that feels secure these contracts with the hotel to house us, all of us for 18 months more? Or do I start trying to find a rental now before the whole town gets booted out of these hotels?" Green said that the decision was made to support Maui's economic recovery. But some people feel that the move is too soon, as those displaced are still reeling from the devastation that destroyed their town. "People are still trying to figure out where their family members are, trying to figure out what to do next," said Tiffany Somera. "People are still in survival mode. They need a place to stay. They need the basic needs right now.” A hotel association executive has told the media that West Maui hotels are at about 55% in their capacity. Mufi Hannemann said this would allow travelers to visit the island, while still letting residents stay with them. "Maui is one thing that needs to run off on tourism," said Lahaina resident Lester Dumayas. "But at the same time, with this whole situation, it's kind of hard for them to go back into the westside of the island." He added: "We've had events with people like some tourists going back over in Lahaina stealing street signs, like small little memorabilia that they could take off the fire. We don't know how it's going to be when it opens back up, if they're going to have that respect for our town.” About 7,200 people are still staying in 29 different hotels, as the State scrambles to find about 1,500 units as long-term housing options for the displaced. Officials also appeal to owners of short-term rental or Airbnb to join the rental pool. The deadline for registration for FEMA assistance is on Oct. 10. As survivors of the wildfire continue in their recovery, dozens of persons remain unaccounted for. The death toll from the blaze has stayed at 115.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

POPCOM, gagamit ng ‘digital platforms’ para pagtibayin ang mga ugnayang pampamilya

Mas pinalalawig ng Komisyon sa Populasyon at Pagpapaunlad (POPCOM) ang adhikain nitong pagpapalaganap at pagpapabuti ng pakikipag-ugnayan ng mga nakakatandang Pilipino sa kanilang mga anak na nagdadalaga at nagbibinata. Nitong Setyembre 21, ang POPCOM ay nagsagawa ng isang “parent-teen talk webinar” gamit ang Zoom, kung saan ang isang “interactive program” ang nagbigay ng naaayon na kaalaman at kasanayan sa mga magulang, habang tumulong ito sa mga anak na teenager na maabot ang kanilang buong potensyal. Hinikayat din nito ang mga nanay at tatay na sumali sa malayang usapan, lalo na sa mga usapin ukol sa sex at sekswalidad, na nakikitang makakatulong upang bumaba ang mga bilang ng mga pagbubuntis sa hanay ng mga kabataan. Maaaring mapanood ang webinar sa https://youtu.be/lZ9jrJCjYas. Ayon kay Ikalawang Kalihim (Undersecretary) Juan Antonio A. Perez III, MD, MPH, “ang webinar ay naging isang tagapag-simula at ‘padaluyan’ ng pag-uu
Read more

UP Diliman Professors Share Scientists’ Procurement Struggles at Senate Hearing

By Harvey Sapigao Senate hearing of the revised procurement law (Photo credit: Senate of the Philippines) College of Science (CS) Dean Giovanni Tapang held up a little white device as he finished his presentation. “This is a ₱150,000 component,” he described. “Isa lang gumagawa nito sa buong mundo, pero ang hirap pilitin sila na magregister sa PhilGEPS,” he continued, referring to the requirement that foreign companies must first register to the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) before they can sell products to local scientists. Marine Science Institute (MSI) Deputy Director Dr. Irene Rodriguez explained that the small device is a resin that filters metals in water. “May budget tayo,” she said, “pero ang problema ko ay ‘yung resin na ito.” This and other bottlenecks brought about by the procurement law, or the Government Procurement Reform Act (RA 9184), slow down research and development in the country. UPD leaders were invited to the Senate he
Read more

Gaza war rages into fourth month as Blinken tours Middle East Adel Zaanoun with Ilan Ben Zion in Jerusalem, --- Agence France-Presse

The Israel-Hamas war raging in Gaza entered its fourth month on Sunday as the army again pounded the besieged Palestinian territory and US top diplomat Antony Blinken was back in the region seeking to avoid a wider escalation. Israeli airstrikes overnight and early Sunday killed at least 64 people in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory, said its health ministry. It said two journalists were killed when their car was struck. The ministry, medics, and witnesses identified them as Mustafa Thuria, a video stringer for Agence France-Presse, and Hamza Wael Dahdouh, the son of Al Jazeera's bureau chief in Gaza who earlier lost his wife and two other children in an Israeli strike. Israeli bombardment also claimed other civilian lives in the southern city of Khan Yunis and in the Rafah area near the Egyptian border, where many of the territory's displaced people have sought refuge, AFP correspondents reported. Relatives were mourning the dead at Khan Yunis' European Hospital, am
Read more