TACLOBAN CITY-In April 2025, Eastern Visayas posted a balance of trade in goods (BoT-G) worth USD 420.68 million. This indicated a trade surplus in contrast to the USD 160.86 million deficit in April 2024 (Figure 1).

The increase in the BoT-G was driven by the total value of exports, which grew by more than three times from USD 124.69 million in April 2024 to USD 457.82 million in April 2025.

On the other hand, the total value of imports declined by 87.0 percent from USD 285.55 million in April 2024 to USD 37.15 million in April 2025.

The total external trade of the region in April 2025 was USD 494.97 million which was 20.7 percent higher than the USD 410.24 million recorded in April 2024.

The total volume of goods exported by the region in April 2025 was 99.63 million kilograms, which was 20.1 percent more than the 82.97 million kilograms of goods exported in April 2024. The commodity group of copper and articles thereof comprised the bulk (94.4%) of the total exports in April 2025 at USD 432.27 million. Exports to Canada worth USD 432.27 million represented the bulk or 94.4 percent of the overall exports in April 2025.

The region imported a total of 181.53 million kilograms of goods in April 2025, which was 11.1 percent higher than the 163.36 million kilograms of goods imported in
April 2024. The commodity group of mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes, which amounted USD 13.22 million was a little over one-third (35.6%) of the total value of imports in April 2025. Republic of Korea (South Korea) which recorded USD 12.72 million worth of imports in April 2025, slightly over one-third (34.2%) of the total value of imports during the month in review. (PR)

ORMOC CITY— A security guard narrowly escaped death after he was shot by a man during an argument in Barangay Palale 2, MacArthur, Leyte on Wednesday morning, August 20.

Police identified the suspect as “John,” 40, of Barangay Burabod, while the victim was “Jeric,” 38, a resident of Palale 2. Authorities said the incident stemmed from a confrontation the victim had the previous day with the suspect’s son.

During the altercation, John allegedly fired once at Jeric, who managed to evade the shot. Responding officers recovered a spent shell and a bullet of unknown caliber at the scene.

Police later arrested the suspect outside his residence in a hot pursuit operation, although the firearm used was not recovered. He was brought to the MacArthur Municipal Police Station for proper disposition.

(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY— Police recovered a stolen white Toyota Vios from Laguna after its GPS tracker led authorities to an auto repair shop in Barangay San Policarpo, Calbayog City on Tuesday night, August 19.

The vehicle, owned by Benedict Javier Torio, was reported stolen in Calamba City, Laguna. Acting on Torio’s complaint through the KALASAG 911 Trunkline, Calbayog police tracked the car to a shop owned by Ricky Saceda.

Upon inspection, officers confirmed the vehicle’s engine number matched Torio’s certificate of registration, though its plate numbers had been altered. The car was brought to Calbayog City Police Station for safekeeping.

Authorities said the case remains under the jurisdiction of Calamba police, with coordination ongoing for the vehicle’s turnover and filing of charges.
(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY — Police operatives arrested a suspected high-value drug personality during a buy-bust operation inside a pension house in Barangay Cogon on Tuesday night, August 19.

City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) chief PLt. Ritche Selencio identified the suspect as “Arnel,” 49, a jobless resident of Barangay West. He is on the Ormoc City Police Office watchlist for allegedly operating not only in the city but also in nearby towns in Leyte.
Confiscated from him were 1.93 grams of suspected shabu worth around P13,124, including a sachet sold to an undercover operative and four more sachets recovered during a body search. Marked money used in the transaction was also seized.

The suspect is now detained at Police Station 1 while charges for violating RA 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are being prepared.
(ROBERT DEJON)