TACLOBAN CITY — Transport operators, drivers, and other stakeholders in southern and western Leyte may soon save hours of travel to access government services following the signing of an agreement to establish a Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) extension office in Baybay City.

The LTFRB regional office and the Baybay city government signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Friday, July 17, for the establishment of the extension office, which is expected to serve clients from Baybay City, nearby municipalities, and neighboring areas in Southern Leyte.

LTFRB Regional Director Gualberto Gualberto and Baybay City Mayor Jose Carlos “Boying” Cari signed the agreement during a ceremonial signing.

The proposed office is expected to provide basic frontline LTFRB services closer to transport stakeholders who currently need to travel to the agency’s regional office in Palo, Leyte.

Officials said clients from some areas covered by the proposed extension office currently have to travel more than 100 kilometers to reach the LTFRB regional office in Palo town, resulting in additional transportation costs and time away from work.

Under the agreement, the Baybay city government will provide temporary office space and personnel to support the operations of the extension office.

Mayor Cari also committed a parcel of land within the Baybay City Government Center as the future site of a permanent LTFRB Extension Office.

The initiative is intended to decentralize frontline government services and make transactions more accessible to transport operators, drivers, and other stakeholders in areas located far from the regional office.

The establishment of the extension office was made possible through the cooperation of the LTFRB, the Baybay City Government, and the Office of Leyte Fifth District Representative Carl Cari.

The LTFRB is responsible for regulating land-based public transportation franchises and services, including the processing of applications and other transactions involving public utility vehicles.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Tingog Party-list Representative Jude Acidre said proposed reforms to the party-list system are intended to strengthen sectoral representation in Congress by imposing clearer eligibility requirements, improving accountability, and preventing the concentration of seats among a few groups.

Acidre said the proposed Party-list Reform Act seeks to ensure that the system remains a genuine platform for the representation of marginalized and underrepresented sectors.
“The proposed reforms are intended to preserve the integrity of the party-list system and ensure that it remains a genuine platform for sectoral representation,” he said in a statement.

Among the proposed measures are a ban on political dynasties within the party-list system, restrictions on newly elected local government officials from immediately seeking party-list seats, and higher competency standards for party-list nominees.

The proposal also includes mandatory training requirements intended to ensure that nominees possess the knowledge and capacity needed to perform their legislative responsibilities.

Acidre said the reforms are aimed at addressing concerns over the party-list system while strengthening public confidence in the sectoral representation process.

He also pointed to the significant laws and legislative measures enacted through the participation of party-list representatives over the years.

According to Acidre, the proposed reforms would promote greater transparency and accountability while ensuring that party-list representatives genuinely represent the sectors they are mandated to serve.

He said the proposed Party-list Reform Act is ultimately intended to preserve the party-list system as an important avenue for broader and more inclusive representation in the House of Representatives.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Farmers in Eastern Samar will have the opportunity to compare various rice production technologies under actual field conditions as 26 agricultural companies participate in the 2026 Rice Derby, a large-scale demonstration project covering nearly 150 hectares in Dolores town.

The participating companies are showcasing hybrid rice varieties, bio-fertilizers, soil ameliorants, and other technologies aimed at increasing farm productivity and helping farmers adapt to climate-related challenges.

The rice derby began its seeding activities on July 15 in Barangays Gap-ang and Jicontol, with the Department of Agriculture(DA) regional office leading the initiative in partnership with the provincial government of Eastern Samar and private agricultural companies.
The 149.67-hectare demonstration area will allow participating firms to showcase their products and technologies under actual farming conditions.

During the kickoff, modern planting methods, including precision seeding and drone-assisted seeding, were demonstrated to show how technology can improve planting efficiency, reduce labor requirements, and promote more uniform crop establishment.
Throughout the cropping season, farmer-cooperators will monitor and evaluate the performance of the different technologies, allowing them to compare the results of various products and farming practices.

The rice derby serves as a technology demonstration platform where farmers can assess innovations that may help increase rice yields, improve farm efficiency, reduce production challenges, and promote more sustainable and climate-resilient rice production.
The initiative is part of continuing efforts by the agriculture sector to encourage the adoption of appropriate technologies and improve rice productivity in Eastern Samar.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — The University of Eastern Philippines (UEP) in Catarman, Northern Samar has opened its College of Medicine, a move expected to help address the shortage of doctors and expand access to medical education in the province and neighboring areas of Eastern Visayas.

The university formally launched the college on July 13, introducing its Doctor of Medicine program that will accept first- and second-year students beginning Academic Year 2026–2027.

The establishment of the College of Medicine was authorized under Republic Act No. 11972, which was signed into law on December 20, 2023.

UEP President Cherry Ultra said the new medical school reflects the university’s commitment to producing physicians who will serve communities with limited access to healthcare.

She also said the program would promote an understanding of the connection between environmental sustainability and public health.

The college currently has 41 medical faculty members and four non-medical personnel recruited from international, national, and provincial hospitals.

During the launch, Dean Dr. Franklin Gali presented the college’s academic direction, faculty, and 10-year development plan.

The long-term plan includes the construction of a P300-million College of Medicine complex, the upgrading of anatomy and histology laboratories, the establishment of a simulation center and research office, and the development of a Level III teaching hospital.
The first phase, covering 2026 to 2027, will focus on securing approval for a five-year development program for the proposed teaching hospital and strengthening the college’s academic and research facilities.

The succeeding phases include expanding clinical affiliations, establishing a telemedicine training program for geographically isolated municipalities, graduating the college’s pioneering batch by 2031, and requiring successful graduates to render return service after passing the Physician Licensure Examination.

The college also plans to establish a Center for Tropical Medicine and Disaster Health Research, secure national accreditation, expand postgraduate programs, and introduce a Bachelor of Science in Midwifery program by Academic Year 2034–2035.

During the ceremony, Commission on Higher Education Regional Office Director Maximo Aljibe formally awarded the certificate of program compliance for UEP’s Doctor of Medicine program, confirming the university’s authority to offer the degree.

Northern Samar Gov. Harris Christopher Ongchuan announced that the provincial government would provide 10 scholarship slots for deserving Doctor of Medicine students.
The scholarship program is intended to help develop more local physicians who could eventually serve communities in the province.

Former Northern Samar First District Representative Paul Daza, the principal author of Republic Act No. 11972 and a member of the UEP Board of Regents, also urged local government units to provide funding for medical scholars.

Daza cited the law’s provision supporting scholarships for qualified and underprivileged students and highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects supporting the university, including funding for the College of Medicine building.

The opening of the UEP College of Medicine marks the university’s first medical degree program and is expected to strengthen the region’s capacity to train physicians and improve healthcare access in Eastern Visayas, particularly in underserved and geographically isolated communities.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)