TACLOBAN CITY– In November 2024, Eastern Visayas registered a balance of trade in goods (BoT-G) at USD -200.12 million. This widened the region’s trade deficit from USD -8.16 million in the same month of 2023.

Meanwhile, external trade in goods amounted to USD 570.16 million in November 2024. This indicated a 7.4 percent increase compared with the USD 530.98 million total trade in November 2023.

Of the total external trade in November 2024, 32.5 percent were exported goods, while 67.5 were imported goods.

The total export value in November 2024 was USD 185.02 million, indicating a 29.2 percent annual decline from the USD 261.41 million export in November 2023.

The total volume of goods exported by the region in November 2024 was 78.85 million kilograms, lower by 24.9 percent compared with the 104.93 million kilograms of exports in November 2023. Copper and articles thereof commodity group dominated the export market in November 2024 at USD 125.74 million.

This accounted for more than two-thirds (68.0%) of the total value of exports during the month in review. The People’s Republic of China was the main export market with USD 82.37 million (44.5%) worth of exports in November 2024.

The total import value posted an annual increase of 42.9 percent to USD 385.14 million in November 2024 from the USD 269.57 million import value in November 2023. The total volume of goods imported into the region in November 2024 was 188.42 million kilograms, lower by 18.3 percent than the 230.64 million kilograms in November 2023.

The commodity group of ores, slag and ash valued at USD 355.15 million comprised the bulk (92.2%) of the total value of imports in November 2024.

The major import supplier in November 2024 was Australia with USD 148.59 million or 38.6 percent of the total value of imports. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – A medical team from the Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC) has been deployed to Myanmar to assist in earthquake relief efforts, as part of the Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Team (PEMAT) under the Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent (PIAHC).

According to Department of Health (DOH) spokesperson Albert Domingo, the EVMC team is one of three PEMAT groups recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO), along with teams from Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in Metro Manila and Jose B. Lingad Memorial Hospital in Pampanga.

These teams underwent assessment in clinical management, logistics, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in September 2024.

All three groups are classified as Type 1 Fixed Emergency Medical Teams and are fully prepared for deployment, the DOH said.

Marc Capungcol, DOH central medical officer, expressed pride in the EVMC team, saying they are on a “mission of compassion and service, bringing hope and healing to disaster-stricken communities.”

At least 18 medical personnel from EVMC were deployed to assist the national medical team in Myanmar, he said.

The EVMC sent three doctors with Dr. Ma. Ivy Lozada as the team leader. Other members of the team include nurses, a medical technologist, pharmacist, physical therapist, midwife, nursing attendants, logistics, administrative and finance staff, social worker.

They will stay in Naypyidaw, Myanmar for two weeks.

To recall, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar and Thailand last March 28, with the latest death toll at 3,085 deaths with hundreds remain missing and 4,715 wounded.

(JOHN LORENZ LESIGUEZ, LNU STUDENT INTERN)

TACLOBAN CITY – The ‘Kadiwa ng Pangulo’: Locally Sourced Exhibit, held from March 31 to April 2 at Robinsons North Tacloban, has made a significant impact by directly connecting farmers with consumers, ensuring access to fresh and affordable agricultural products.

Spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture (DA), the event not only helps small-scale farmers, particularly women-led enterprises, but also provides budget-friendly produce such as vegetables, poultry, and rice at just P29 per kilo.

Amid rising food costs, the fair serves as a much-needed initiative benefiting both producers and consumers, agricultural technologist Eliseo Cayrel of the City Agricultural Office said.

“Our farmers face high production costs, and this fair provides them with better market opportunities while ensuring the public can access fresh produce at lower prices,” he said.
More than 10 farmers’ associations from different provinces, including Tacloban, Baybay, Ormoc, and Northern Leyte, participated in the fair, showcasing their products such as pinangat, pili products, chips, cookies, tuba, and other delicacies.

Beyond selling produce, the Department of Agriculture supports farmers by providing seeds, technical training, and business guidance to help sustain their livelihoods.
“The DA is committed to assisting farmers, and there is a strong possibility of holding another Kadiwa Fair next month,” Cayrel disclosed.

Encouraged by the event’s success, the DA is working to further promote the Kadiwa ng Pangulo initiative through media outreach, urging consumers to buy locally sourced products while directly supporting farmers.

(PRINCESS MANZANARES, LNU STUDENT INTERN)

TACLOBAN CITY—The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the region has reported positive progress in its ongoing ‘Operation Baklas.’

Lawyer Ma. Corazon Montallana, Comelec assistant regional director, noted that the initiative to remove illegal campaign materials has been proceeding smoothly, with candidates showing greater compliance.

“There aren’t many campaign materials left to remove. Based on our inventory, the number has significantly decreased. This means that candidates are gradually becoming more compliant with election laws,” Montallana said in an interview on Wednesday, April 2.
She also expressed satisfaction with the level of adherence in Tacloban City, in particular, which has seen fewer violations compared to other areas.

“That’s something I appreciate about Tacloban. Our candidates here are generally more compliant, unlike in other areas where campaign materials are placed indiscriminately,” she said.

‘Operation Baklas’ is a collaborative effort involving the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), local government units (LGUs), and in some areas, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The initiative began on February 11 for national candidates and March 28 for local candidates, aiming to ensure a fair election process by enforcing regulations on campaign materials.

(JOHN LORENZ S. LESIGUEZ, LNU STUDENT INTERN)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Doña Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Educational Foundation Inc. (DRTREFI) College of Medical Technology, this city, has secured the 5th spot among the top-performing schools in the March 2025 Medical Technologists Licensure Examination (MTLE), according to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)on Thursday, April 3.
DRTREFI demonstrated its academic strength with a 100% passing rate among its 57 first-time takers and an overall passing rate of 98.36%, further cementing its reputation as one of the country’s premier institutions for medical technology education.

The remarkable performance was attributed to Batch ‘Coronaviridae’, whose success reflects the school’s robust curriculum and the dedication of its faculty and students, as shared in a post on the school’s official social media page.

The MTLE results serve as a critical benchmark for evaluating the country’s ability to produce competent and well-trained medical technologists—key contributors to the healthcare system.

DRTREFI’s impressive outcome underscores its ongoing commitment to health education excellence and its mission to equip future medical professionals for meaningful careers in healthcare.

Aside from Tacloban City, the licensure examination was held on March 26–27, 2025, in various testing centers across the country, including the National Capital Region (NCR), Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Koronadal, Legazpi, Lucena, Pagadian, Pampanga, Rosales, Tuguegarao, and Zamboanga.

(PRINCESS MANZANARES, LNU STUDENT INTERN)