TACLOBAN CITY– The Samar provincial government has bared the nightly schedule for the San Juanico Aesthetic light and sound show.

Based on the information released by the provincial government through its official social media account, the light and show at the iconic bridge will be as follows: Mondays to Thursdays from 6 pm until 10 pm only static lights while it will be a 15-minute dynamic light show every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday beginning at 7 pm with an hour interval.
The computer-generated colored lights will be turned off by 12 midnight.

The aesthetic lighting at the San Juanico Bridge was officially switched on by President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. last October 19.

The P80 million worth project was funded by Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) and was conceptualized by the provincial government of Samar during the time of Gov. Sharee Ann Tan.

With its added attraction, Gov.Tan said they see not only an increased number of tourists visiting the bridge during nighttime but will result in more investors coming in, especially within the area.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

Hilongos, Leyte–An old grudge was believed to be the reason behind the stabbing to death of a farmer by a laborer this town, last Sunday (Oct. 23).

Hilongos police chief, Lt. Edwin Villarino, identified the victim as Felipe Lelis, 35, while the suspect was identified as Reynaldo Lolor, 47, both residents of Barangay Campina, here.
Initial investigation conducted by the local police disclosed that the victim and his wife were walking on their way home after attending a drinking session in Brgy. Baas when they saw the suspect driving his single motorcycle.

The police said that the victim tried to flag down the suspect but the latter refused to stop, and on that instance, the victim followed the suspect heading towards his house.

However, while the victim was on his way to the suspect’s house, the suspect came back armed with a long-bladed weapon locally known as ‘sundang’ and hacked the victim on the forehead and fled.

The victim was brought to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival by his attending.
The suspect was arrested during a hot pursuit operation and recovered from his possession the sundang he used in stabbing the victim.

Lolor is now detained at the local police station. (ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Northern Samar provincial government will look into the delay of ferry trips between Samar Island and Sorsogon province.

John Allen Berbon, Northern Samar provincial information officer, said Monday Governor Edwin Ongchuan shared the concern with the provincial board on Oct. 14, a day after a meeting with members of the House of Representatives in Eastern Visayas, governors, and heads of key regional line agencies.

One of the agenda discussed during the meeting in this city led by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez were the delays in ferry trips between the port of Matnog in Sorsogon and ports of Allen and San Isidro in Northern Samar.

“The provincial board were united in the move to identify and resolve probable lapses in ferry operations that if left to continue, will adversely impact on the delivery of goods and services not just in Northern Samar but in other parts of Visayas and Mindanao, which need to pass through the route to hasten the movement of agri-industrial inputs, food and non-food products among others,” Berbon said in a statement.

Northern Samar Vice Governor Clarence Dato earlier said the problem of delayed trips may be attributed to overlooked conditions of permits issued to ferry service providers.

“The provincial board then agreed to inquire on the operations of ferry companies in the province, particularly in Allen and San Isidro ports where commercial vessels ferry passengers and cargoes to Matnog, and vice versa,” Berbon added.

There are 15 ferry trips between the two provinces daily crossing the San Bernardino Strait.

The Matnog ferry terminal in Sorsogon is the only exit point from Luzon to Eastern Visayas while Northern Samar has two entry points – the privately-owned ports in Allen town and the government-owned ferry terminal in San Isidro town.

These ports form part of the northeastern seaboard nautical highway that links the country’s three major island groups – Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

For decades, roll-on roll-off ferries cross the San Bernardino Strait, carrying passengers and vehicles to and from Northern Samar ports and Matnog port in Sorsogon.
With a distance of 28 kilometers, the average travel time is one hour and 30 minutes. (PNA)