TACLOBAN CITY — In a bid to strengthen its solid waste management program and explore more sustainable waste disposal solutions, officials of the local government unit (LGU) of Arteche, Eastern Samar conducted a benchmarking visit to the municipality of Palapag, Northern Samar to study its thermal decomposition technology.

The visit, held on Jan.29, focused on Palapag’s use of a thermal decomposition machine, an environmentally sound system designed to significantly reduce the volume of solid waste and improve disposal efficiency.

The Arteche delegation was led by Vice Mayor Roland Boie Evardone, together with personnel from the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) and the Engineering Office. The group paid a courtesy call on Palapag Mayor Florence Batula and Vice Mayor Melvic Chy, who welcomed the initiative and shared the municipality’s experience in adopting the technology.

During the benchmarking activity, Palapag officials presented the operational process, sustainability measures, and challenges encountered in running the facility.
Arteche officials were also given a walkthrough of the waste management site, allowing them to observe the system in actual operation and assess its potential application in their own municipality.

Technical briefings were facilitated by Palapag MENRO staff Charlito Gorgonia and agricultural technician Sixto Ano, who explained the technical and environmental aspects of the thermal decomposition system.

Arteche officials said the activity was intended to gather best practices and practical insights that could help enhance the municipality’s waste management initiatives and overall environmental protection efforts.

Both local governments described the visit as an opportunity to exchange strategies and strengthen inter-local cooperation in advancing sustainable solid waste management in the region.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Calbayog City Mayor Raymund Uy said that the rehabilitation of the Maharlika Highway is crucial in improving road safety and reducing vehicular accidents in Samar, where poor road conditions have long been blamed for deadly incidents.

Uy made the statement in reaction to the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) announcement of a massive repair program for the Maharlika Highway, the country’s main arterial road linking Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

According to the mayor, deteriorated sections of the highway have been a major factor in road accidents in the province, some of which have resulted in injuries and fatalities.
“Safety is the number one concern. We have seen several accidents where the road condition itself was a major cause,” Uy said.

His remarks came amid reports of a fatal vehicular accident in Barangay Dampigan, Sta. Rita, Samar, which occurred on the same day Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon arrived in the region. The incident left one person dead and six others injured.
Uy also pointed out that the poor condition of the highway has significantly affected travel time.

He said travel from Calbayog City to Tacloban City, which previously took around three hours, now stretches to four to five hours, causing inconvenience to motorists, commuters, and transport operators.

The mayor expressed optimism that once the road rehabilitation is completed, travel across Samar will become safer, faster, and more efficient, benefiting both residents and businesses.

During his visit, Secretary Dizon noted several ongoing road reblocking projects along the Maharlika Highway and directed concerned contractors and DPWH offices to complete the repairs before the Holy Week observance in the first week of April, when traffic volume is expected to increase.

The DPWH said the accelerated repairs aim to improve road conditions and ensure safer travel for the public, especially during peak travel periods.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — The completion of a runway extension at the Calbayog City Airport is expected to improve air connectivity in Samar, as the facility can now accommodate larger aircraft and potentially offer direct flights to Metro Manila, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said.

DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez announced the development during his visit to Calbayog City on Monday, Feb.2, saying the expanded runway removes previous limitations that confined airport operations to turboprop aircraft.

Calbayog City Airport is one of the few operational airports on Samar Island with an existing commercial route, currently serving flights between Calbayog and Cebu. Until recently, runway constraints prevented the airport from handling larger aircraft capable of flying directly to Metro Manila.

With the runway extension completed, Lopez said bigger aircraft can now safely land and take off, paving the way for possible Manila-bound flights and improved passenger access to and from Samar.

To further enhance airport facilities, Lopez directed the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to allocate additional funding for infrastructure upgrades. These include P60 million for an asphalt overlay covering a 300-meter section of the runway, P100 million for strip grade correction, and P10 million for airport fencing.

Calbayog City Mayor Raymund Uy welcomed the development, saying it will significantly benefit passengers and boost the city’s connectivity.

He said the availability of direct flights to Metro Manila would eliminate the need for travelers to go to Tacloban or Catarman, or take connecting flights via Cebu, reducing travel time and costs for residents and visitors.

The mayor added that the improved airport facilities are expected to support tourism, trade, and overall economic activity in Calbayog City and neighboring areas.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Visayas State University (VSU) based in Baybay City has once again been recognized as the Philippines’ most outstanding research institution after clinching the 2025 Tanglaw Award, underscoring its sustained focus on scientific research that delivers concrete benefits to farmers, communities, and other stakeholders.

The recognition was conferred during the 53rd anniversary celebration of the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD), marking the fourth time the university has received the prestigious honor.

VSU President Prose Ivy Yepes said the award affirms the university’s commitment to research that goes beyond academic output and directly addresses real-world needs.
“VSU is a community of scholars, innovators, and visionaries bound by a shared belief that research must create real and tangible impact,” Yepes said in a statement released by the university.

She added that the recognition serves as a reminder for the institution to remain grounded in service. “This award reminds us that recognition is meaningful only when it keeps us attentive to those we serve. It asks us to remain thoughtful in how we ask questions, careful in how we apply knowledge, and honest in assessing the impact of our work,” she said.

The Tanglaw Award is the highest institutional recognition for excellence in research, development, and innovation (RDI), citing VSU’s strong performance in translating scientific knowledge into practical solutions that benefit communities, industries, and the environment.

Along with the Tanglaw trophy, the university received a P5-million grant to support the upgrading of its research, development, extension, and innovation (RDEI) infrastructure and capability-building programs.

The university first received the Tanglaw Award in 1977, followed by recognitions in 2013 and 2019.

From 2020 to 2024, VSU generated 70 commercialized technologies and filed 112 research outputs for intellectual property protection. Through its Innovation Office, 71 intellectual property rights were granted, with innovations adopted by 26 local enterprises and incubatees, generating a combined income of P19.2 million.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)