In Northern Samar

TACLOBAN CITY — The declaration of state of calamity by the provincial government of Northern Samar following the devastating impact of Super Typhoon Uwan on November 9 was aimed at helping affected municipalities recover more efficiently.

Rei Josiah Echano, provincial disaster risk reduction and management officer, said many local governments in the province have nearly depleted their disaster funds, making additional support crucial for restoring shelter, livelihoods, and agricultural activities.
The provincial board approved the declaration on November 14, following the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) chaired by Governor Harris Ongchuan.

“The successive tropical cyclones that have impacted the province, including the recent monstrous Super Typhoon Uwan, necessitate a state of calamity so we can focus on early recovery with the needed resources,” Echano said in an online interview.

Under the declaration, 30 percent of the province’s P150-million calamity fund will be allocated as quick response funds to assist municipalities in rebuilding and relief operations.
Typhoon Uwan affected 90,424 families, or 338,197 individuals, in Northern Samar coming from all the 24 towns of the province, including its provincial capital of Catarman.

Of these, 49,327 families, or 172,079 people, were evacuated to various temporary shelters. The storm damaged 22,306 houses partially and destroyed 658 completely.

The state of calamity will allow local governments to implement emergency measures, expedite procurement of goods and services, and mobilize resources to speed up recovery.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

ORMOC CITY — Authorities responded to an alleged bomb threat in Villa Socorro, Barangay San Isidro, Ormoc City on November 14, 2025, at around 12:45 p.m., according to the Police Regional Office 8 (PNP-8) based in Palo, Leyte.

The report was initially received by a 24-year-old marketing staff identified only as alias “Cara,” a resident of Villa Socorro. The message, sent from an unidentified number, read: “Mag-ingat, merong bombang pinasok sa Villa Socorro, Ormoc. Isang pindot lang sa cellphone, lahat mamatay. Target namin ang lugar ng Owak. Nandiyan ang mga corrupt.” The first recipient of the message was Cara’s mother, who asked her daughter to read it. Cara later received the same message directly.

Concerned for the safety of the community, they inquired if neighbors had received similar messages, but no other residents confirmed receiving the threat.

Police elements from Ormoc City Police Station 4 (OCPS4), in coordination with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Ormoc, and the Regional Anti-Crime Unit (RACU) Ormoc, immediately conducted assessment and security operations. The Ormoc City EOD Canine Unit (OCECU), along with the K-9 Sniffer Unit, performed paneling and clearing of the area to ensure public safety.

RACU8 Ormoc personnel and OCPS4 investigators also conducted further assessment of the incident. No explosive device was found, and investigations are ongoing.

PNP-8 reiterated its commitment to ensuring public safety and urged residents to report any suspicious messages or activity to authorities.

(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)

ORMOC CITY-A 37-year-old carpenter listed as a high-value target in the provincial drug watchlist was arrested during a buy-bust operation conducted by police in Barangay Nipa, Tagapul-an, Samar, late Tuesday night, November 11, 2025.

Police identified the suspect only as “Onik,” a resident of the same barangay and living with his common-law wife. The operation was carried out by the Station Drug Enforcement Team and the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit of the Samar Provincial Police Office around 11:19 p.m.

Recovered from the suspect were one sachet of suspected shabu purchased by an undercover operative for P500, and two additional sachets of the same substance found inside a cigarette pack marked “Winsboro.” Also seized was the P500 buy-bust money.

Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are being prepared against him. He is now detained at the Tagapul-an Municipal Police Station.

(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY — A fire completely destroyed a farmer’s house in Barangay Kansungka, Baybay City on Tuesday morning, November 12, 2025, authorities reported.

The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m., leaving the residence of a 76-year-old farmer, known by the alias “Ben,” in ashes. Police said the house, located about 8.1 kilometers from the Baybay City Police Station, was already engulfed in flames when responders arrived.

According to the initial investigation, the homeowner had left for work at a copra station in Barangay Sta. Cruz around 6:00 a.m., while his wife had gone to the city for medical treatment. He was later informed by co-workers that his house was on fire.

When he rushed home, firefighters and police were already at the scene, but the blaze had completely consumed the structure.

A witness, identified as “Vilma,” told investigators that she saw a small fire burning in a pile of dried wood and leaves near the house earlier that morning. Thinking it posed no danger, she left to eat breakfast.

SFO1 Keneth Ian Villaflor, the arson investigator, said the fire likely originated from that burning pile, with embers carried by the wind to the house.

The Bureau of Fire Protection estimated the damage at P30,000. Authorities confirmed that no one was hurt in the incident.

(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)

ORMOC CITY– A 35-year-old jobless man identified as a newly listed street-level drug personality was arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted by the Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) in Barangay Mazawalo, Palompon, Leyte, on Saturday afternoon, November 9, 2025.

Palompon officer-in-charge Police Captain Rushty Alvarado identified the suspect only as “Ray,” a resident of Sitio Malasugi in the same barangay.

Authorities said one sachet of suspected shabu, worth P500, was purchased from the suspect by an undercover operative. During a subsequent body search, police found three more sachets of the same substance inside a blue-and-white plastic container, along with the marked P500 bill used in the operation.

The suspect was informed of his arrest and his constitutional rights in a language he understood.

Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, have been filed before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office. The suspect is currently detained at the Palompon Municipal Police Station.

(ROBERT DEJON)

As the chime of the “Bell of Joy” rang through the hall during the National Authority on Child Care (NACC) agreement signing with local government units for the institutionalization of adoption and child care programs, the deep shrill of the bell signaled that once again, a child has been welcomed into a permanent, loving family.

Officer-in-Charge Josamae Sedillo of the Regional Alternative Child Care Office Eastern Visayas (RACCO VIII) heartfully read the Certificate of Finality and Order of Adoption of “Eric” and “Mae,” marking the formal beginning with their forever family. Eric becomes officially the first born of a couple from Maasin City, while Mae legally becomes the daughter of another couple from Limasawa, Southern Leyte.

The symbolic bell, mounted on a modest wooden stand, rang twice for the two children, as social welfare staff and visitors present were smiling, some in tears and applauding quietly, showing the unwavering dedication to child welfare. The ceremonial ringing of the bell symbolizes the successful completion of the child’s adoption journey from hope to home.
In Eastern Visayas, there are 56 children declared legally available for adoption and are expected to benefit from the partnership recently forged by NACC together with 46 LGUs across the region.

The partnership will strengthen the implementation of domestic administrative adoption, foster care, and other forms of alternative child care for abandoned, neglected, foundlings, orphaned, surrendered, abused, or exploited children in the region.

RACCO VIII has placed 29 children with their forever family. Some 53 children are under the care of licensed foster parents and a total 343 children have been provided with adoption and alternative child care programs and services since 2023.

NACC Usec. Janella Ejercito Estrada encouraged the public to support administrative adoption and other forms of alternative child care and ensure the safety and interest of a child by rejecting all forms of illegal adoption, particularly online selling of babies.

She made a heartfelt plea to desperate parents not to sell their child, and to instead come forward to NACC or the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for help.
“Hindi po natin dapat hayaan na maging negosyo ang buhay ng isang bata. Bawal pong magbenta ng bata, bawal pong magbigay ng bata sa iba, bawal pong mag-iwan ng bata kung saan-saan, bawal pong mag-tamper ng certificate ng bata, dapat pong sumunod sa proseso ng legal na pag-aampon,” Usec. Estrada said during the MOA signing with local government units in Eastern Visayas.

For RACCO VIII, the bell of joy has rung several times over the past months which represent months and even years of collaborative work among social workers, foster families, psychologists, and the adoptive parents who open their hearts and homes to a child in need.

For now, the bell stood still once more, quietly waiting for the next child who will soon find a forever home. (ACR/PIA Leyte)