BAYBAY CITY– The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office and Visayas State University (VSU) based this city have partnered to boost the implementation of the government’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) in Eastern Visayas through a formal memorandum of agreement.

The agreement seeks to enhance capacity-building and livelihood development initiatives for SLP beneficiaries by tapping the technical expertise and academic resources of VSU.
DSWD-8 Regional Director Grace Subong said the partnership is crucial in strengthening program delivery, noting that collaboration with academic institutions helps fill gaps in technical support.

“We cannot implement a program alone. We need partners,” Subong said, adding that VSU was chosen for its strong research and extension capabilities.

The partnership also aims to support education, health-related initiatives, and micro-enterprise development to help beneficiaries become more active participants in the local economy.

DSWD said the collaboration is expected to improve service delivery and expand opportunities for SLP participants through strengthened institutional support and technical assistance.

Present during the signing were VSU President Prose Ivy Yepes, Vice President for Research, Extension and Innovation Santiago Peña, Extension Director Catherine Arradanza, and SLP officials from DSWD.

(RONALD O. REYES)

TACLOBAN CITY — The National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) has reduced the training fee for its training course for assessors (IMO Model Course 3.12), aiming to make advanced maritime education more accessible to Filipino seafarers and instructors.

Starting May 1, 2026, the course fee was lowered from P11,400 to P8,000.

NMP Executive Director Victor Del Rosario said the adjustment is intended to support the continuous professional development of maritime professionals while strengthening their global competitiveness.

“This initiative is more than just a discount—it is a strategic advancement in strengthening the global competitiveness of Filipino maritime professionals,” Del Rosario said, adding that the move helps ensure equitable access to internationally aligned training programs.

The 10-day training course for assessors is designed to develop competent maritime assessors who can properly administer and monitor seafarer evaluations in line with the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW).

According to NMP, the program plays a key role in maintaining the integrity of Philippine maritime certifications by producing qualified assessors aligned with international standards.

Del Rosario also thanked the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), led by Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, for supporting the initiative to make maritime training more affordable.

He said the program reflects NMP’s continued commitment to supporting Filipino seafarers, often referred to as modern-day heroes, by removing financial barriers to career advancement.

(RONALD O. REYES)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) has started the nationwide distribution of abaca spindle stripping machines to farmer associations, aiming to modernize fiber processing and improve productivity in the country’s abaca industry.

In Eastern Visayas, PhilFIDA’s Technical Assistance Division and Fiber Engineering Section are allocating a total of 250 units nationwide, with 33 units earmarked for the region as part of the initial rollout.

Of the regional allocation, 15 units were turned over in Mondragon, Northern Samar on April 27, 2026, while 18 units were distributed at the Eastern Visayas Regional Fiber Experiment Station in Abuyog, Leyte on April 30, 2026.

The machines will be further distributed to farmer groups across the region, with allocations of eight units for Northern Samar, five for Eastern Samar, two for Samar, five for Biliran, nine for Leyte, and four for Southern Leyte.

PhilFIDA said the introduction of the machines is expected to improve fiber extraction efficiency, enhance abaca quality, and increase farmers’ income by reducing manual labor and processing time.

To ensure proper handling and sustainability, a one-day training was conducted by supplier Erin-Marty Fabricators Co., Inc., covering machine operation, maintenance, and basic troubleshooting for beneficiaries.

The distribution activity was led by PhilFIDA Region VIII’s Technical Assistance Unit under Jonathan M. Reambonanza, with support from provincial fiber officers, property officer Imelda P. Tan, and local government representatives under OIC Regional Director Joseph S. Salas.

PhilFIDA said the program supports efforts to strengthen Eastern Visayas’ position as one of the country’s leading abaca-producing regions.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

VILLABA, Leyte — Agriculture in western Leyte received a major boost after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the inauguration of the P1.21-billion Hibulangan Reservoir Irrigation Project in Barangay Hibulangan on Thursday, April 30, a facility expected to significantly improve water access and farm productivity in the province.

The irrigation system is set to benefit 1,821 farmers covering about 2,750 hectares of farmland across the towns of Villaba, Matag-ob, and Kananga, providing a more reliable water source for rice and other crops.

Marcos, speaking before farmer-beneficiaries, paid tribute to Filipino farmers, calling them “modern-day heroes” who continue to sustain the country’s food supply despite economic and climate challenges.

He underscored irrigation as a critical foundation of agricultural development, stressing that even high-quality seeds and inputs cannot maximize yields without sufficient water supply.
The President also encouraged local officials to explore additional uses of the reservoir area, including eco-tourism and fisheries, to generate extra livelihood opportunities for surrounding communities.

Originally initiated in 2013 under the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III, the project has now been completed and fully operational.

Farmers in the area welcomed the development, saying it would reduce dependence on rainfall and expensive water pumping systems.

Dindo Comonol, a farmer and barangay councilor, said the irrigation system is expected to significantly increase harvests.

He noted that production costs have also risen sharply due to fuel price increases, adding pressure on farmers already struggling with expenses.

Villaba Mayor Carlos Veloso expressed gratitude for the project, noting that Marcos is the first sitting president to visit the municipality.

He said the irrigation facility represents a long-awaited solution that will strengthen the local farming sector and improve productivity across multiple barangays.

The Hibulangan Reservoir Irrigation Project features a 25-meter-high earthfill dam with a storage capacity of about 9.01 million cubic meters, supported by an extensive network of canals and hydraulic structures designed to efficiently distribute water to farmlands.

Officials said the project is expected to enhance agricultural resilience and contribute to long-term food security in Eastern Visayas.

TACLOBAN CITY — About 2,400 farmers in Baybay City received cash assistance on April 29, 2026, under the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk Program (PAFFP), as the government responds to the impact of rising fuel and production costs on the agriculture sector.

The Department of Agriculture(DA) in the region distributed P2,325 each to qualified beneficiaries listed under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), prioritizing active farmers affected by higher fuel prices.

Officials said the cash aid is intended as flexible support to help farmers cover immediate production needs such as fuel for farm equipment, fertilizers, and crop protection inputs.
Beneficiaries welcomed the assistance, saying it would help ease the financial burden brought by increasing costs of farm operations.

Farmer Julito Bellen said the rising prices of gasoline and diesel have significantly affected their work in the fields.

“This is a big help for me because gasoline and diesel are very expensive now… Thank you very much to the Department of Agriculture for helping us farmers,” he said.

Another beneficiary, Nilda Solomon, said the aid could also help cover the cost of fertilizers and other essential farm inputs, which have likewise become more expensive.

“I am thankful for the programs now because there are many things we need to buy, such as fertilizers and medicines for our rice fields,” she said.

The distribution in Baybay City is part of a wider rollout of the PAFFP in Eastern Visayas, with similar payouts conducted in Southern Leyte, Basey, and Tacloban City to reach more farmers affected by rising production costs.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)