TACLOBAN CITY – Residents of MacArthur, Leyte are expected to benefit from improved healthcare and emergency response services following the inauguration of the town’s new rural health unit and fire station on Friday, July 3.

Leyte Vice Governor Leonardo “Sandy” Javier joined Mayor Rene Gonzalez, local officials, and residents during the blessing and inauguration of the new facilities, which are aimed at enhancing the delivery of essential government services in the municipality.

The event also featured the turnover of several government service vehicles, including ambulances, a fire truck, rescue vehicles, and other utility units that are expected to strengthen the town’s emergency response and disaster preparedness capabilities.
In his message, Javier lauded the local government of MacArthur and all those who contributed to the completion of the projects, describing them as investments that will directly benefit the community.

“These new facilities and service vehicles symbolize our shared commitment to protecting lives, promoting public health, and bringing quality government services closer to our people,” the vice governor said.

He also underscored the importance of sustained cooperation among government officials and the public in pursuing development initiatives across the province.

“Let us continue moving forward together with unity, dedication, and genuine love for our province. There is still much work to be done, but I am confident that together, we will build an even stronger, safer, and more progressive Leyte,” he added.

The new Rural Health Unit is expected to improve access to primary healthcare services, while the new Fire Station and additional emergency vehicles will enhance the municipality’s capacity to respond to fires, accidents, medical emergencies, and other disasters.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has committed more than P300 million for farm-to-market roads in Eastern Samar as it renewed its partnership with the provincial government to strengthen agricultural and fisheries extension services aimed at increasing farm productivity and improving the livelihoods of farmers and fisherfolk.

The renewed collaboration was formalized through the signing of a memorandum of agreement under the province-led Agriculture and Fisheries Extension System (PAFES) during the Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Summit on July 2.

The agreement reaffirms the commitment of the DA-8 and the provincial government of Eastern Samar to institutionalize a more responsive, coordinated, and inclusive agriculture and fisheries extension system through joint planning, investment, implementation, and monitoring.

During the summit, DA Regional Executive Director Rodel Macapañas announced that Eastern Samar would receive increased government investments, particularly in infrastructure that would improve agricultural productivity.

“With PAFES, we have committed a much higher fund allocation for Eastern Samar. For farm-to-market roads alone, we have allocated a total of P304 million. I hope this package will be complemented by the local government and the private sector,” he said.

Aside from the PAFES agreement, the DA and the provincial government also signed a separate memorandum of agreement for the co-financing of projects under the 2026 Collaborative Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Program (CPAFEP).

The agreement commits both parties to jointly finance and implement priority agricultural and fisheries projects designed to increase production, improve farmers’ and fisherfolk’s incomes, and promote sustainable rural development across the province.

Governor Ralph Vincent ‘RV’ Evardone welcomed the renewed partnership, saying collaboration between the national and local governments is essential to achieving long-term growth in Eastern Samar’s agriculture sector.

“We are united in advancing the agriculture sector in our province. We are grateful that the Department of Agriculture is here to help our farmers and fisherfolk. As a provincial government, we give our full support to this initiative,” he said.

PAFES is the DA’s flagship program that harmonizes agricultural extension services between the national government and local government units, ensuring that government programs, technologies, and investments effectively reach farmers and fisherfolk at the grassroots level.

The initiative also supports the DA’s “Para sa Masaganang Bagong Pilipinas” agenda and serves as the primary platform for implementing agricultural devolution under Executive Order No. 103, Series of 2025.

Officials said the renewed partnership is expected to strengthen agricultural governance in Eastern Samar by fostering greater collaboration among government agencies, local government units, farmers’ organizations, and development partners while enhancing food security, increasing the competitiveness of the province’s agriculture and fisheries sector, and building more resilient farming and fishing communities.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – Farmers and residents of two villages in Leyte are now benefiting from faster and safer access to their farms following the completion of a P19.58-million farm-to-market road project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The newly completed 1.742-kilometer road links Barangay Doyog in La Paz and Barangay Burgos in Mayorga, improving year-round connectivity for farming communities that had long struggled with muddy and impassable roads, especially during the rainy season.
Implemented by the DPWH Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office and funded under the 2025 General Appropriations Act, the project involved the concreting of a 1.160-kilometer stretch using a five-meter-wide Portland Cement Concrete Pavement (PCCP), the construction of a 582-meter gravel road extension, and the installation of stone masonry protection works to enhance the road’s stability and durability.

The project was undertaken by CNE Construction at a cost of P19.58 million.

Before the road was improved, residents found it difficult to transport agricultural produce to markets because the route became muddy and hazardous during inclement weather.
Ronalyn Suria, a resident of Sitio Banhaway, Barangay Doyog, said the poor condition of the road previously hampered their livelihood.

“Before our road was concreted, traveling to our rice fields was extremely difficult. Transporting our harvest was a major challenge because the road was very muddy. We often could not bring our agricultural products to the market, and many motorcycle drivers refused to travel to our area because of the poor road conditions and the risk of accidents while hauling rice,” she said.

Suria said the completed road has transformed daily life in the community by making travel safer and more efficient.

“Now that we have a concrete road, traveling has become much easier and safer. Transporting our farm products is faster and more efficient, and more motorcycle drivers are willing to serve our community. We are truly grateful to the DPWH for providing this road because it has greatly improved our livelihood and made our daily lives more convenient,” she added.

The DPWH said the project is expected to reduce transportation costs, improve the movement of agricultural products to markets, strengthen connectivity between rural communities, and contribute to the economic development of the area.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Catbalogan City government has suspended face-to-face classes and placed most local government employees under work-from-home arrangements as a worsening water shortage continues to disrupt daily life despite improving weather conditions.

Mayor Dexter Uy announced the emergency measures, saying the prolonged lack of water has become a serious public concern affecting thousands of residents, schools, businesses, and government operations.

In a statement, the city government said several parts of Catbalogan continue to experience little to no water supply even after heavy rains have subsided, prompting the local government to adopt temporary measures while seeking immediate solutions from the city’s water service providers.

The City Mayor’s Office and the Sangguniang Panlungsod said they have repeatedly sought a comprehensive explanation from Tubig Catbalogan Corporation (TCC) and the Catbalogan Water District (CWD) regarding the continuing supply disruption.

According to the city government, residents have received repeated assurances that the situation would improve, but the water shortage has instead worsened, affecting households, schools, and businesses across the city.

“The lack of water is no longer a simple inconvenience but a public emergency that affects the health, sanitation, education, and daily lives of our people,” the city government said.
To mitigate the impact of the crisis, the city government ordered the suspension of in-person classes in both public and private schools and directed most city government employees to work from home, except personnel assigned to peace and order, disaster risk reduction and management, health and sanitation, and traffic management. Other government agencies and private establishments were encouraged to adopt similar work arrangements where feasible.

Mayor Uy also directed officials of Tubig Catbalogan Corporation and the Catbalogan Water District to meet with the city government and present a detailed report on the causes of the water shortage and the specific measures being undertaken to restore normal service.
The city also ordered the intensification of water rationing operations, immediate action to address operational issues caused by power outages and high water turbidity, and a legal review of the existing agreement between TCC and CWD to determine whether the contract should be maintained, amended, or terminated.

In addition, the City Legal Office was instructed to study possible relief measures for consumers affected by the prolonged service interruption, including adjustments in water service charges.

The city government said it expects the concerned water providers to implement concrete and long-term solutions to restore a stable and reliable water supply for Catbalogan residents as soon as possible.

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