TACLOBAN CITY– Metro Retail Stores Group, Inc. (MRSGI) has expanded its footprint in Eastern Visayas with the opening of a new retail store in the capital town of Naval, bringing its supermarket, department store, and home lifestyle offerings closer to residents of Biliran province.

The Metro Naval, which opened on May 15, serves as a one-stop shopping destination, offering essential goods, fashion items, and home products for consumers in Naval and nearby municipalities.

The opening marks MRSGI’s 83rd store nationwide, its 65th location, and the company’s 12th branch in Eastern Visayas, underscoring its continuing expansion in regional markets outside major urban centers.

The inauguration was led by MRSGI President and Chief Operating Officer Joel Orense and attended by local government officials, including Biliran Governor Rogelio J. Espina, Naval Mayor Gretchen Stephanie Espina, and Vice Mayor Nick Arthur Parilla, along with business partners and community stakeholders.

According to the company, the new store is expected to generate employment opportunities and support local economic activity through partnerships with suppliers, vendors, and other stakeholders in the province.

“Metro Naval represents our commitment to growing alongside the communities we serve,” Orense said. “As we expand our footprint across the country, we want to ensure that families in provinces like Biliran have access to quality and affordable retail options while also creating opportunities that contribute to local economic growth.”

The facility houses Metro Market, Metro Department Store, and Metro Home Lifestyle, providing residents with a wider range of products and a more integrated shopping experience.

MRSGI said the expansion forms part of its broader strategy of making modern retail services more accessible to underserved and growing communities across the country while contributing to local development.

Metro Retail currently operates 83 branches across Luzon and the Visayas under various formats, including Metro Supermarket, Metro Department Store, Super Metro Hypermarket, Metro Value Mart, and Metro Home Improvement and Lifestyle.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

In Southern Leyte

PINTUYAN, Southern Leyte — The municipal government of Pintuyan officially closed its whale shark interaction season on June 1, marking the end of another strong tourism period that drew thousands of visitors and sustained local livelihood opportunities in the coastal town.

In a statement signed by Mayor Ricarte Estrella and Municipal Tourism Officer Engr. Edilberto Alapag, the local government said the seasonal closure reflects both conservation measures and the town’s continued commitment to responsible marine ecotourism.
Municipal records showed that 9,842 local and foreign tourists visited Pintuyan for whale shark interaction activities from October 2025 to May 26, 2026, underscoring the town’s growing reputation as an ecotourism destination in Southern Leyte.

Tourist arrivals have steadily increased over the past seasons, from 2,040 visitors in 2023, to 3,894 in 2024, and 6,521 in 2025, indicating rising interest in Pintuyan’s marine wildlife encounters.

The local government thanked tourists, tour operators, stakeholders, and community members for supporting sustainable tourism practices that prioritize marine conservation.
Despite the seasonal closure of whale shark interactions, Engr. Alapag said visitors can still enjoy other tourism activities in the municipality, including pygmy squid catching at the port, jigging, spearfishing, snorkeling, diving, mountain trekking, waterfall visits, and excursions to Mt. Caningag Resort.

He emphasized that whale shark tourism in Pintuyan is governed by strict guidelines that prohibit feeding, baiting, and physical contact with the animals, allowing them to migrate and surface naturally while protecting marine biodiversity in Sogod Bay.

Alapag also highlighted the economic impact of the program, noting that many residents who were previously dependent on farming and fishing have found alternative livelihoods as boat operators, tour guides, and whale shark spotters.

He said tourism growth has also benefited local businesses such as inns, restaurants, transport services, and other related enterprises.

One of the most significant outcomes, officials added, has been the transformation of former illegal fishers into active partners in marine conservation efforts.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday inspected the ongoing P28.73-billion rehabilitation of the Maharlika Highway in Samar, saying the project will significantly improve mobility in Eastern Visayas and cut travel time between Tacloban City and Catbalogan City by more than an hour once completed in August 2026.

Accompanied by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, the President visited the project site in Pinabacdao town, where he was welcomed by Mayor Viannery Dy Mabag and other local officials.

Marcos said the rehabilitation of the key highway corridor is expected to boost regional connectivity, facilitate the faster movement of people and goods, and support economic growth across Samar and neighboring provinces.

Once completed, travel time between Tacloban and Catbalogan is expected to be reduced from approximately three hours to one hour and 45 minutes, providing motorists with a safer and more efficient route.

The President also stressed the need to ensure that the project meets quality standards and is completed on schedule.

The rehabilitation covers a major section of the Maharlika Highway, also known as the Pan-Philippine Highway, the country’s principal land transportation network linking Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao.

In Eastern Visayas, the highway stretches 395.52 kilometers from Allen, Northern Samar, to San Ricardo, Southern Leyte, with about 205.75 kilometers traversing Samar province. The road serves as a critical corridor for passenger transport, commerce, agriculture, tourism, and government services.

Government officials said the rehabilitation project is intended to address aging and deteriorated road sections that have been affected by years of heavy use and adverse weather conditions.

Beyond reducing travel time, the upgraded highway is expected to lower transportation costs, improve logistics for farmers, fisherfolk, and businesses, and enhance access to schools, hospitals, government offices, and other essential services.

Officials also noted that the improved road network will strengthen disaster response capabilities by ensuring safer and more reliable routes for relief and recovery operations during emergencies and natural calamities.

The rehabilitation works are targeted for completion in August 2026, marking a major step in the government’s efforts to modernize infrastructure and improve connectivity in Eastern Visayas.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY — The National Housing Authority (NHA) and the provincial government of Northern Samar are reviewing possible design adjustments for the Kauswagan Village Housing Project in Barangay Cablangan, Mondragon, amid rising construction costs affecting implementation plans.

The matter was discussed during a meeting between Northern Samar Governor Harris Ongchuan and NHA Regional Office VIII officials led by Regional Manager Engr. Clemente Dayot, together with provincial government representatives and partner agencies.

Talks centered on how to sustain the project’s scope while addressing the increasing cost of building materials, which has prompted a reassessment of the original housing design.
The project was initially planned to include 34 single-detached housing units. However, officials are now considering shifting to a combination of duplex and quadruplex housing units to optimize land use and maximize available funding.

Provincial officials said the proposed redesign would allow the government to accommodate more beneficiaries while ensuring the project remains financially and structurally feasible.
The Kauswagan Village Housing Project is envisioned as a core shelter and agricultural livelihood community for former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who have returned to the fold of the law, supporting their reintegration into mainstream society.
The site is located on a seven-hectare property donated by the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) to the provincial government.

Also present during the meeting were representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Northern Samar, the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), the Provincial Legal Office, the Provincial Engineering Office, and the Provincial General Services Office.

Officials said further technical discussions will be conducted to finalize the revised housing design and implementation schedule.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY— Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles John Brown arrived in Borongan City on Thursday, June 4, for a pastoral visit marked by a civic welcome, cultural presentation, and the blessing and inauguration of key diocesan facilities of the Diocese of Borongan.

Upon arrival, Archbishop Brown was formally welcomed by Eastern Samar Governor Ralph Vincent Evardone, Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda, and Bishop Crispin Varquez, along with local officials, clergy, and residents. The reception included a cultural presentation showcasing the city’s Padul-ong Festival.

Following the welcome ceremonies, the papal envoy proceeded to the Borongan Cathedral for a Holy Mass before leading the blessing and inauguration of the Diocese of Borongan’s Multi-Purpose Building, Priests’ Retirement Home, and Emergency Evacuation Shelter in Barangay Balud 2.

The two-story facility located at Oikos Village is designed to serve multiple functions, including as a residence for retired and sick priests, a diocesan formation and administrative center, and a temporary evacuation shelter for families affected by disasters and emergencies.

In his homily, Archbishop Brown highlighted the spiritual meaning of the structure, stressing that its value goes beyond physical construction.

“A home is something more than a house. It’s love that makes a house a home,” he said, adding that the facility is intended to be a place of care, fraternity, and compassion for elderly clergy.

Joining the Apostolic Nuncio during the activities were Archbishop John Du of Palo, Bishop Nolly Buco of Catarman, and Bishop Crispin Varquez of Borongan, together with members of the clergy, local officials, and lay faithful.

The facility sits on a 2,173-square-meter property, with construction that began in March 2023 through donations from benefactors, parishes, families, and church organizations both within and outside the diocese.

Bishop Varquez said the project was conceived as a multi-purpose diocesan center that would also serve as a museum, formation hub, and evacuation facility for vulnerable communities during calamities.

He noted that the new structure replaces the former Priests’ Home in Barangay Campesao, which was prone to flooding due to its riverside location, prompting its relocation to a safer and elevated site.

Although inaugurated, Varquez said additional funding is still needed, estimating around P7 million to complete remaining works, including access roads and finishing construction.
He appealed for continued support from donors and the faithful, saying the project reflects the shared mission of the Church.

“This undertaking is an expression of our love for the Church, our love for the clergy, the religious, and our lay people as one local Church,” Varquez said.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)