TACLOBAN CITY-Eastern Visayas registered a Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) of 65.6 percent in April 2023.

This placed the region’s labor force at 2.15 million persons who were either employed or unemployed out of the estimated 3.28 million population 15 years old and over.

The 65.6 percent LFPR was higher by 1.9 percentage points than the 63.7 percent LFPR recorded in January 2023. This figure was also higher by 5.6 percentage points compared with the 60.0 LFPR in April 2022.

This means that the labor force in April 2023 was higher by around 73 thousand persons than the 2.08 million persons who were in the labor force in January 2023, and higher by around 202 thousand persons than the 1.95 million labor force in April 2022 (Figure 1).

The region’s employment rate in April 2023 decreased to 95.8 percent, from 96.2 percent in January 2023. The 95.8 percent employment rate translates to about 2.06 million employed persons out of the 2.15 million persons in the labor force in April 2023. This number was higher by about 62 thousand employed persons compared with the 2.00 million employed persons in January 2023. Furthermore, the number of employed persons in April 2023 was higher by around 229 thousand persons than the estimated 1.83 million employed persons in April 2022.

Eastern Visayas’ unemployment rate was estimated at 4.2 percent in April 2023, higher by 0.4 percentage point than the 3.8 percent unemployment rate in January 2023.

The 4.2 percent unemployment rate was equivalent to around 90 thousand persons in the labor force who were unemployed in April 2023, higher by about 11 thousand unemployed persons compared with the 79 thousand unemployed persons in January 2023. The 4.2 percent unemployment rate in April 2023 was lower compared with the 6.0 percent unemployment rate in April 2022 which was equivalent to 116 thousand unemployed persons.

The underemployment rate in April 2023 was posted at 18.0 percent or about 370 thousand persons out of around 2.06 million employed persons registered during the quarter. This was 0.8 percentage point lower than the rate in January 2023 at 18.8 percent. However, this was higher by 3.1 percentage points compared with the 14.8 percent underemployment rate registered in April 2022. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources(BFAR) in the region has turned over P3.2 million worth of deep-sea net or ‘lambaklad’ and fish aggregating device (FAD) or ‘payao’ to four fisherfolks associations in Leyte and Northern Samar provinces.
The granting of the assistance to the fishermen was made through the special area for agricultural development (SAAD) phase II program of BFAR under its food production and livelihood component.

The Monbon Fish Dealers and Vendors Association in Palapag, the Lapinig Fisherfolk Association, and the Baybay SAAD Fisherfolk Association of Gamay, in Northern Samar, and the Union Fishermen’s Association of Mayorga, Leyte were the recipients of the deep-sea device.

Each of these associations received four units of payao worth P200,00.

Through this project, fisherfolks are projected to boost the income of each association by up to 50%, promising a substantial positive impact on their lives and the local economy.
The fisherfolk associations have devised an equitable income-sharing scheme where 60% of the earnings will be divided equally among the members, while the remaining 40% will be allocated towards the overall development of their respective associations.

Eglecerio Comora Jr., president of the group, expressed hope and optimism for the future among fishermen, especially who are part of their association.

“We are hopeful that through this project, there will come a time that we will become a direct fish supplier throughout the municipality of Mayorga, Leyte,” he said.

His association has been furnished with a comprehensive set of resources including lambaklad nets, a 30-footer fiberglass boat complete with complete accessories, a 16 HP Marine engine, and a digital weighing scale with a total worth of P2.4 million.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

ORMOC CITY-The police are still investigating who were the perpetrators behind the gruesome murder of a businesswoman here in the city on Tuesday (August 1).

The suspects barged inside the house of Emily Porcadilla,55, a used clothing reseller, in Barangay District 1, and shot her several times.

The suspects immediately fled on board their getaway vehicle.
The police has yet to determine what could be the motive in killing the victim.
(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)

ORMOC CITY-Relatives of a farmer who was shot dead ransacked the houses of the family members of the suspect in Calbayog City on July 28.

The relatives of Jason Parilla went to the houses of Joseph Bello’s family members in Purok 3, Barangay Talahiban in the said city at about 3:45 pm.

To recall, Bello, who is the village chairman of Talahiban, shot dead Parilla while they were having a drinking session inside the house of the suspect on July 27 after they engaged in a heated argument.

The village chairman remains at large.

According to the police, these relatives of Parilla went to the houses of Bello’s relatives and destroyed all things and properties inside.

The relatives of Bello were not able to defend themselves as the attackers were said to be armed and they were outnumbered. (ROBERT DEJON)

BORONGAN CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways – Eastern Samar District Engineering Office (DPWH-ESDEO) joined the “Serbisyo Caravan” initiated by the provincial government in the barangays of Dalid, Dao, and Bagacay of the Municipality of Oras, Eastern Samar on July 18, 2023.

According to Governor Ben P. Evardone, the said program aims to bring government services closer to the people, especially to those who live in far-flung barangays.
“Our aim is to bring the government services at your doorstep without any expense,” he said.

Some services offered were free medical consultation aided with free medicines and vitamins, tooth extraction, circumcision, haircut, body massage, vegetable seeds, legal services, and information dissemination.

Meanwhile, DPWH-ESDEO representative Engr. Christian Paul Balita ensures the residents that the agency will continue to construct quality and safe infrastructure projects in the province.

“Our Maintenance Personnel make sure that our roads and bridges are well-maintained to avoid road deterioration. We also monitor the road condition in the province especially during typhoons and landslides,” Engr. Balita said.

He also informed the residents regarding the updates of infrastructure projects implemented in Oras.

“We have implemented various infrastructure here in Oras, some are completed and some are still ongoing like flood control structures in the barangays of Saurong, Nadacpan, Agsam, Cadian, Buntay, Cagpile and Brgy. Gamot. We also paved the roads of Brgy. Calawit, Brgy. Iwayan, Brgy. Saurong and Brgy. Nadacpan,” added Engr. Balita.
Engr. Balita also announced during his speech that the construction of Oras District Hospital will start soon.

Also present during the said activity were Vice Governor Maricar S. Goteesan, Oras Municipal Mayor Roy A. Ador and Sangguniang Panlalawigan 1st District Members Virginia Zacate, Anabelle Capito, Atty. Philip Evardone, Jr., Provincial Councilor League 8 President RV Evardone and Provincial Administrator Nelson Cortez. They were also joined by department heads of the provincial government and other agencies in the province who are involved in this Serbisyo Caravan.
(MAY ANTOINETTE O. NABLE, PIO STAFF)

ORMOC CITY-Two sachets containing white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu were recovered by the agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) from a newly-identified drug peddler during a buy-bust operation at 7:31 pm on Thursday (August 2) in Barangay San Pablo, Naval, Biliran.

PDEA Regional Director Gil Pabilona identified the suspect as Cesar Ian Rosit, legal age, a resident of Sitio Lumbia, Brgy. San Roque of Biliran town.

He is listed as a street-level individual on the drug watch list of PDEA and the Philippine National Police.

Recovered from the possession of the suspect were two sachets containing suspected shabu.

Charges of violations of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Law against Illegal Drugs of 2002, were filed against the suspect who is now detained at the locked-up cell of Naval municipal police station.
(ROBERT DEJON)