Seven years after hitting rock bottom in 2013, Eastern Visayas is now repaying an act of kindness and gratitude with at least Php15 million worth of cash and in-kind donations for the families affected by Super Typhoon Rolly in Bicol Region.
More than 2,000 cyclists pedaled for Yolanda Commemorative Ride Sunday morning and successfully generated the assistance to be turned over this week to the affected residents of the storm battered Bicol Region.
Through the help of our marshals from different biker’s group and government agencies, proper health protocols were followed to ensure the safety of participants such as proper registration, QR code scanning, temperature checks, wearing of face masks and helmet, observance of physical distancing, and disinfection.
We thank all the participants and donors for making successful the fundraising drive during Sunday’s commemoration of Super Typhoon Yolanda’s seventh anniversary.
Waraynons find joy in helping others and today is another celebration of kindness, gratitude and the resiliency of Filipinos. We want to share our blessings and to pay it forward to our fellow Filipinos. Our people know exactly what the evacuees in Bicol are going through now.
Despite the numerous challenges we face in our everyday lives, we always remain resilient to stay in the game. We do not allow difficulties to break us, that is the key behind our recovery. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY– The Inflation Rate (IR) in Eastern Visayas has declined to 1.8 percent in September 2020, a report from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA-8) said.
PSA Regional Director Wilma Perante said in an interview that the 1.8 percent IR in the region is 0.5 percentage point lower than the 2.3 percent IR recorded in August 2020.
“The September 2020 IR of the region, however, is higher by 1.9 percentage points compared with the 0.1 percent deflation in the same period last year,” she said.
Perante reported that the regional IR is 0.5 percentage point lower than the 2.3 percent national average in September 2020.
She said that among provinces, Samar posted the highest IR in September 2020 at 5.3 percent. This figure is 1.0 percentage point higher compared with its 4.3 percent IR in August 2020.
Southern Leyte and Eastern Samar also recorded increases by 0.1 percentage point, resulting to an IR of 3.1 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively
Leyte retained its previous month’s IR of 1.3 percent.
Perante added that the Purchasing Power of Peso (PPP) of the region remained at P0.79 in September 2020. “This PPP implies that the goods and services worth P79.00 in 2012 is worth P100.00 in September 2020,” she said.
She added that the PPP in Northern Samar strengthened by P0.01 compared with its figure in August 2020. Biliran weakened by P0.01, while the rest of the provinces retained their previous month’s PPP.
On the other hand, Perante said, Biliran recorded the strongest PPP at P0.82. Leyte ranked second at P0.81, followed by Southern Leyte at P0. 80, Eastern Samar at P0.77 and Northern Samar at P0.74. Samar posted the weakest PPP at P0.73. (RESTITUTO A.CAYUBIT)

The Social Security System (SSS), since October 2020, has been following a new schedule for the disbursement of monthly pensions using the Philippine Electronic Fund Transfer System and Operations Network (PESONet) and other checkless disbursement channels.
The new schedule covers pensioners receiving their pensions through PESONet participating banks, e-wallets, and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) accredited Remittance Transfer Company/Cash Payout Outlet – M Lhuillier.
Under the new schedule, the said pensioners with dates of contingency from the first to the 15th day of the month will receive their pensions on the 1st day of the pension month (first batch), while those with dates of contingency from the 16th to the last of the month will receive their pensions on the 16th day of the pension month (second batch).
If the credit date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or a holiday, the pension will be credited to their accounts on the last working day before the Saturday, Sunday, or holiday.
September 2020 pensions
The SSS reiterates that pensions for September 2020 were already released to banks in mid-August 2020. These pensions were schedule to be credited to their accounts on their dates of contingency – the old disbursement schedule.
After receiving the funds from the SSS, some banks are crediting them to their pensioner-clients’s accounts ahead of the scheduled crediting date, which may be, but not limited to, the last week before or the first week of the pension month.
Pensioners, to double-check whether they have already received their September 2020 pensions, are advised to secure a Statement of Account from their depository bank; this could be the pension credited to their account on the 3rd to 4th week of August 2020.
They can also check their Pension Payments History by logging in to their My.SSS account at www.sss.gov.ph. The history can be accessed by clicking on “Inquiry,” followed by “Benefits,” then “Pension Details.”
October 2020 pensions
The SSS has already released all pensions for October 2020 through PESONet and other checkless disbursement channels as well as through the old disbursement method for non-PESONet participating banks and checks.
For releases through the new disbursement method, the SSS through DBP credited the funds to PESONet participating banks and other checkless disbursement channels last October 1 for the first batch and October 16 for the second batch, as scheduled.
November 2020 pensions
Through DBP, the SSS has already credited the first batch of November 2020 pensions to other PESONet banks before 12 noon on october 30, 2020. These PESONet participating banks are expected to make the said pensions available for withdrawal to their pensioner-clients on October 30 onwards.
The SSS is requesting PESONet participating banks to release the said benefit to pensioners as soon as possible if they still have not.
Pensioners are advised to contact their respective depository banks should there be any delay in crediting their pension as the SSS has already disbursed the funds. (PR)