In Northern Samar

TACLOBAN CITY — Las Navas, Northern Samar, Mayor John Philbert Tan has urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with authorities following separate armed encounters between government troops and members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in two villages of the municipality.

In a statement, Tan acknowledged public concerns over the October 4 firefight in Barangay Poponton and another armed encounter in Barangay Palanas on October 8, assuring residents that the municipal government is coordinating with security forces and concerned government agencies to protect communities and maintain peace and order.

He cautioned residents, particularly those in affected and neighboring areas, against spreading unverified information that could fuel fear and confusion, and encouraged them to report information that could help authorities ensure public safety.

Despite the incidents, Tan called for collective efforts to achieve lasting peace, urging members of armed groups to return to their families and communities and abandon armed struggle.

He also assured those who wish to surrender that the local government is prepared to assist them in rebuilding their lives and reintegrating into their communities.

The mayor’s appeal followed a report by the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division on the October 4 encounter in Barangay Poponton, where troops of the 20th Infantry Battalion engaged suspected NPA members following reports that armed individuals were allegedly extorting and threatening civilians.

The military urged residents to continue cooperating with government forces and encouraged remaining members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) to surrender and avail themselves of government reintegration assistance.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Tingog Party-list lawmakers have backed a proposed measure seeking to strengthen safeguards for children against harmful online content, exploitation and other digital risks following its approval on second reading by the House of Representatives on Oct. 6.

House Bill No. 11566, or the proposed Children’s Digital Safety, Protection, and Well-Being Act, seeks to impose age restrictions on digital platforms, establish child safety standards and hold online companies accountable for protecting young users.

Tingog Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez, Andrew Julian Romualdez and Jude Acidre are among the authors of the measure, which also seeks to strengthen the role of parents and government agencies in promoting children’s online safety.

Acidre said the internet and social media have become integral to children’s education, communication and social development but also expose them to potential harm.
“Internet and social media can no longer be separated from our children’s lives. They learn, make friends and discover the world through these platforms. But these same spaces can expose them to exploitation, harmful content and experiences they may not yet be equipped to handle,” he said.

Under the proposed measure, children below 13 would be prohibited from creating or using accounts on covered digital platforms, while those aged 13 to below 18 could access these services subject to parental consent and prescribed safeguards.

The bill also seeks to restrict harmful content, targeted advertising, unsafe online interactions, livestreaming, endless scrolling, behavioral profiling and unnecessary collection or sharing of children’s personal information.

Digital platforms would also be required to establish privacy-preserving age verification systems, with users’ ages reverified at least twice a year. Simply asking users to declare their birth dates would not meet the proposed requirements.

Acidre said protecting children online should not rest solely on parents but should also require accountability from companies operating digital platforms.

“Child safety should already be built into these platforms, not something families have to figure out on their own,” he said.

The bill also covers social and interactive features of online gaming, including communication, content-sharing and livestreaming, but excludes core gameplay and game mechanics beyond its specified coverage.

It further proposes creating an Office for Children’s Social Media and Digital Safety under the Department of Information and Communications Technology to oversee implementation, alongside educational programs to help parents and caregivers promote responsible digital habits.

Acidre said the measure aims to allow children to benefit from technology while protecting them from online dangers.

“We do not want to keep children away from technology. We want them to enjoy its benefits, learn, discover and connect with others without being unnecessarily exposed to harm,” he said.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Solo parents and their qualified dependents can access a wider range of health insurance benefits under a PhilHealth policy that provides government-funded contributions for eligible members and helps protect families from high medical expenses.
Miramar Zabala, head of the Public Affairs Unit, and Asisclo Militante, division chief of Field Operations of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Regional Office 8, discussed the expanded coverage, which falls under the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP), during their guesting at the weekly media conference initiated by IMNET held at the Madison Hotel and Resort, San Jose district, this city.

Under PhilHealth Circular No. 2026-0015, issued in September 2026, solo parents registered with the appropriate local government unit (LGU) office and holding a valid Solo Parent Identification Card (SPIC) may be registered as indirect contributors to the national health insurance program.

The policy implements provisions of Republic Act No. 11861, or the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act, which provides for government-funded PhilHealth contributions for eligible solo parents. For those employed in the formal economy, premium contributions are shared equally by their employers and the national government.

Militante said solo parents and their qualified dependents may avail themselves of PhilHealth’s benefit packages, subject to existing eligibility and validation requirements.
These include inpatient and outpatient services, the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), which provides access to primary healthcare services, and the Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment (GAMOT) program.

Eligible solo parents and their dependents may also benefit from applicable No Co-payment and No Balance Billing policies, which protect qualified patients from additional charges for covered services, subject to PhilHealth rules and requirements.

The coverage extends to qualified dependents, including eligible children and other dependents recognized under existing regulations.

The initiative complements the Universal Health Care Act, or Republic Act No. 11223, which aims to ensure that Filipinos have access to quality and affordable healthcare without suffering undue financial hardship.

Zabala reminded solo parents to ensure that their status is properly documented and their PhilHealth membership records are updated to facilitate registration and access to benefits.
Eligible individuals are encouraged to coordinate with their respective LGU Solo Parents Office or Solo Parents Division to secure or validate their identification cards and confirm their membership information.

The expanded coverage is intended to strengthen financial protection for solo parents, who often shoulder the responsibilities of raising their children and managing household expenses without a partner.

Through the policy, PhilHealth seeks to help eligible solo-parent families obtain essential medical care while reducing the financial burden associated with healthcare needs.

(LIZBETH ANN A.ABELLA)