TACLOBAN CITY — Thousands of kilograms of corn and vegetable seeds have been delivered to Northern Samar to help farmers recover from recent severe weather disturbances that damaged crops and disrupted food production across the province.
The assistance, coursed through the Northern Samar Provincial Agriculture and Fishery Extension Center (PAFEC), was requested by Northern Samar Second District Rep. Edwin Ongchuan and provided by the Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).

The shipment includes more than 3,000 kilograms of corn seeds and about 1,000 packets of assorted vegetable seeds such as pechay, eggplant, okra, patola (sponge gourd), and ampalaya (bitter gourd).

Provincial officials said the seeds will allow farmers to immediately replant damaged areas and restore food production following climate-related impacts that affected their livelihoods.

The Provincial Agriculture Office, headed by Dr. Jose Luis Acompanado, will oversee the distribution to ensure that the most affected farmers across municipalities receive the assistance without delay. Officials stressed that timely intervention is crucial to prevent prolonged downtime in farming activities and to stabilize the local food supply chain.

Ongchuan thanked Agriculture Secretary Francis Tiu Laurel Jr. and BPI Director Glenn Panganiban for the swift response to the province’s request, noting that immediate access to quality seeds is vital for Nortehanon farmers striving to recover income losses.

Provincial authorities said the seed distribution forms part of broader government efforts to strengthen agricultural resilience in disaster-prone areas and support farming communities as they rebuild from the effects of extreme weather events.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

ORMOC CITY — Police arrested a 37-year-old ‘sikad-sikad’ driver in Naval, Biliran after he allegedly attempted to set fire to a residence by throwing a gasoline-filled bottle inside the property on Wednesday, March 4.

The suspect, identified by police as alias “Sario,” a resident of Barangay Jubay in Calubian, Leyte, was arrested following a hot pursuit operation shortly after the incident.
Police identified the complainant as alias “Bert,” 25, a self-employed resident of Barangay Santo Rosario in Naval.

According to a report from the Naval Municipal Police Station, the complainant went to the police station around 12:30 p.m. to report an alleged attempted arson that occurred earlier at Jelos Place 1 in Barangay Santo Rosario.

Responding officers immediately proceeded to the scene to verify the report and conduct an investigation.

Initial findings revealed that the suspect allegedly threw a plastic bottle of a soft drink containing gasoline into the compound of Jelos Place 1, specifically near a generator set and an oven inside the complainant’s property.

The incident was reportedly witnessed by several workers in the area, including alias “Rico,” 28, a baker; alias “Jen,” 24, a secretary; and alias “Lyn,” 36, the officer-in-charge of Jelos Place 2. All are residents of Barangay Caray-Caray in Naval.

The complainant also presented to the police the plastic bottle that still contained gasoline.
Police immediately launched a hot pursuit operation, which led to the arrest of the suspect.
Authorities said the suspect was informed of the nature of his arrest and apprised of his constitutional rights in a language he understood.

He was later brought to the Naval Municipal Police Station for proper disposition and the filing of appropriate charges.

(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Philippine government is closely monitoring developments in the Middle East but has found no verified or credible threat to the country’s territory or military installations, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said.

In a statement issued on March 2, Año said the National Security Council (NSC) continues to assess the situation and remains vigilant amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the region.

“Based on current intelligence assessments, there is no verified or credible direct threat to Philippine territory, including our military installations and surrounding communities,” Año said, adding that security agencies are maintaining preparedness measures to ensure early detection of potential risks.

The official also addressed concerns raised in public discussions suggesting that facilities under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) could make the Philippines a possible target amid the ongoing hostilities in the Middle East.

Año said such claims misrepresent the nature of the agreement and the current security situation.

He stressed that the Philippines is not a party to the conflict and that the hostilities remain confined to the Middle East.

The national security adviser also clarified that EDCA sites are not United States military bases but facilities located within Philippine military camps that remain under the ownership and control of the Philippine government.

“These sites remain under the full ownership of the Republic of the Philippines and under the command and control of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” Año said.

Under the agreement, the United States is granted limited access to facilities within Philippine bases for joint training, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, interoperability, and capability development.

Año said the presence of U.S. forces in these sites is rotational rather than permanent and is intended to support the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization and capability-building efforts.

He also urged the public to rely on verified information when discussing security issues, noting that speculation and fear-based narratives can create unnecessary concern.
“At such times, it is essential that public discourse be grounded in verified information rather than speculation,” he said.

Año added that the government will continue to closely coordinate with security agencies while ensuring the protection of national sovereignty and the safety of the Filipino people.(PR)