TACLOBAN CITY – The proposed 20-kilometer Sorsogon-Samar Transport Crossing (SSTC) has moved closer to a feasibility assessment with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) committing P500 million to help finance the study for the planned fixed link between Luzon and the Visayas.

House Minority Leader Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan welcomed the ADB commitment, saying the funding would augment the P130 million appropriated by Congress for the feasibility study.

The proposed crossing will connect Matnog, Sorsogon, and Allen, Northern Samar, providing a permanent road link that would complement the existing roll-on/roll-off ferry connection between the two provinces.

According to information relayed by Surigao del Sur Rep. Romeo Momo Sr. during House plenary deliberations on the Department of Public Works and Highways’ 2027 budget, the ADB is expected to bid out the feasibility study in November, with completion targeted within 12 months.

The study will examine the proposed crossing’s marine, geological and geotechnical conditions, seismic risks, navigation requirements, environmental and social impacts, and vulnerability to typhoons and other extreme weather events.

The proposed fixed link is expected to reduce travel time between Matnog and Allen to about 20 minutes, compared with the current roughly 2.5-hour journey by roll-on/roll-off ferries.

Proponents also expect the project to provide more reliable transportation between Luzon and the Visayas, particularly during periods when ferry operations are disrupted by bad weather.

Libanan said the project has an estimated economic rate of return of 42 percent, pointing to its potential economic benefits.

A project concept brief estimates that the SSTC could generate about PHP975 billion in annual economic benefits from vehicle operating cost savings, land development and tourism, travel-time savings, and improved logistics efficiency.

The feasibility study will determine the technical and economic viability of the proposed crossing and provide the basis for decisions on its possible development.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY– The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region VIII’s Blue Economy Reinvigoration in the Visayas (BLUER Visayas) project has emerged as the region’s top priority project endorsed by the Regional Development Council in Eastern Visayas (RDC-8).

The project puts the spotlight on one of the Visayas’ most valuable yet vulnerable assets- the sea. Its funding requirement is pegged at a total of P201.9 million, needing P67.1 million from it for the project’s cost in 2028.

The Blue Economy is of urgent concern for the Visayas regions of Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas with its heavy reliance on the seas for sustenance and economic prosperity.

Visayas, located at the heart of the Philippines is considered to be an archipelago within an archipelago. Unlike Luzon and Mindanao, the Visayas is composed of many islands where the main mode of transportation is through the sea.

BLUER Visayas is a program designed to strengthen these archipelagic characteristics within four key industries: fisheries, tourism, maritime transport, and marine-based products.

DOST-8 Regional Director John Glenn Ocaña describes the program as one aimed at harnessing science, technology, and innovation (STI) to improve productivity and competitiveness in these key industries while minimizing their environmental impact.
“It will also promote the use of green energy, support sustainable practices, and help reduce inequalities among vulnerable and disadvantaged small-island communities,” Ocaña said.

For millions of people, the sea provides a living.

Fishing and other marine-based activities remain important sources of income, particularly for coastal and small-island communities. At the same time, the region’s beaches, coral reefs, islands, and other marine resources continue to draw tourists from the Philippines and abroad.

However, the same seas that give the Visayas its rich blue economy also exposes many communities to risks.

Small island and coastal communities are particularly vulnerable to typhoons, storm surges, flooding, sea-level rise, and other natural hazards. Limited access to infrastructure, technology, markets, and basic services can further deepen the challenges faced by disadvantaged communities.

This makes strengthening the blue economy not simply an economic concern but an urgent development priority.

RDC 8’s endorsement of BLUER Visayas as Eastern Visayas’ top priority project underscores the importance of investing in initiatives that respond to the distinct geographical and economic realities of the Visayas and reflects a broader development direction where economic growth is anchored on resilience and sustainability.

BLUER Visayas offers a science- and technology-driven pathway toward the goal where blue economy becomes not only a source of livelihood and prosperity but also a foundation for resilient island communities.

The initiative is anchored on AmBisyon Natin 2040 and aligned with the DOST’s four strategies supporting the 8-point Agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. These strategies focus on promoting human well-being, creating wealth, protecting wealth, and ensuring sustainability.

(AHLETTE C. REYES,PIA Leyte)

TACLOBAN CITY – Ninety persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in Tacloban City and Biliran province have received technical-vocational training and livelihood support to help them develop skills they can use during and after their incarceration.

In Tacloban City, 50 PDLs of the Tacloban City Jail Male Dormitory (TCJMD) completed training in Housekeeping NC II and Electrical Installation and Maintenance (EIM) NC II.
Twenty-five PDLs completed each course during a graduation ceremony held Sept. 24 at the TCJMD Covered Court.

The training was conducted by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Region 8 in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), UNIC Technological College Corp. and other stakeholders.

TESDA Provincial Director Enrico Banario, School Chief Executive Dr. Vilma Arteche, UNIC Technological College Corp. School Administrator Dr. Remilyn Lim and representatives of the Tacloban City government attended the ceremony.

The graduates received certificates and special awards, while those who completed Housekeeping NC II also received their TESDA training allowances.

In Biliran, another 40 PDLs received starter toolkits under the 2024 Special Training for Employment Program (STEP) of the TESDA-Biliran Provincial Office.

Twenty beneficiaries were from the BJMP and another 20 were from the Biliran Provincial Jail.

The toolkits were provided to complement the beneficiaries’ training in Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) NC I, NC II and NC III, enabling them to apply their skills and explore livelihood opportunities.

One PDL beneficiary expressed appreciation to TESDA and the Provincial Government of Biliran for providing the training and starter tools despite their circumstances.

He said the SMAW NC II training and the tools would help beneficiaries pursue livelihood opportunities and build a productive future after their release.

Biliran Provincial Jail Warden Maj. Gideon Batiquin said the jail has designated an area where trained PDLs can accept orders and perform welding jobs.

The facility gives the beneficiaries an opportunity to practice and further develop their skills while serving their sentences, while allowing them to potentially earn from their competencies.

The initiatives in Tacloban City and Biliran are part of efforts to equip PDLs with technical-vocational skills and livelihood opportunities that can support their eventual reintegration into the community.

Through training, certification and access to tools, the programs seek to help PDLs apply their acquired skills and engage in productive activities during and after their incarceration.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)