TACLOBAN CITY– The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-8) reported that around 3,000 minimum wage earners from Tacloban City benefited from its “Bente’ng Bigas Meron Na” program held on October 15, 2025, at the Leyte Convention Center in Pawing, Palo, Leyte.

In a statement, DOLE-8 said the initiative was implemented through its North Leyte Field Office (NLFO) in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA), National Food Authority (NFA), and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Tacloban-Leyte, Inc. (PCCI-TLI).

The program enabled minimum wage earners from various private establishments to purchase 10 kilos of rice for only P200, as part of the government’s continuing efforts to help workers cope with the rising cost of living.

DOLE-8 Assistant Regional Director Atty. Joan Noya-Nidua said the initiative reflects the agency’s commitment to support the welfare of workers by improving their access to affordable basic commodities.

“Ang inisyatibong ito ay hindi lamang simpleng pagbebenta ng bigas. Ito ay nagpapakita ng ating layunin na mapagaan ang pasanin ng mga manggagawa sa pamamagitan ng pagtitiyak na makakauwi sila ng abot-kaya at de-kalidad na bigas para sa kanilang pamilya,” Noya-Nidua said.

Also present during the activity were Board Member Wilson Uy, representing Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho L. Petilla; Hon. Pipes Ygrubay, representing Palo Mayor Remedios L. Petilla; Engr. Hillet B. Diaz, NFA Leyte Branch Manager; Mrs. Mercedita Lasquite, representing DA OIC-Regional Director Rodel Macapañas; and Eugene A. Tan, PCCI-TLI President.

In his message, Tan lauded DOLE and its partner agencies for their continued support to the local labor sector, describing the workers as the “core of the economy” in Tacloban City and the greater Eastern Visayas region.

According to DOLE-8, similar rice distribution activities will continue in other parts of the region as part of its broader social protection and livelihood initiatives for minimum wage earners.

(LIZBETH ANN A.ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY– Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) proudly announces its invitation from the European Union Delegation to the Philippines to serve as one of the regional hubs for the European Higher Education Fair (EHEF) 2025, one of the most anticipated educational events in the country that promotes study, research, and cultural exchange opportunities in Europe.

This year’s EHEF 2025 will be conducted in two phases — the on-site fair on November 21–22, 2025, at Robinsons Ermita, Manila, and the online fair on November 24, 2025, allowing wider participation from students, faculty, and professionals across the Philippines, including those in the Eastern Visayas region.

EVSU’s inclusion as one of the regional hubs underscores its growing reputation and active participation in internationalization initiatives. It also reflects the university’s strong partnership with the European Union Delegation to the Philippines and its member states, as well as its commitment to promoting access to global learning opportunities for students and faculty.

The EHEF 2025 will feature presentations from various European universities and colleges, showcasing their academic programs, institutional profiles, scholarships, research opportunities, and cultural exchange programs. Students and professionals will have the opportunity to directly engage with representatives from prestigious European higher education institutions to explore pathways for study and collaboration.

EVSU President Dr. Dennis C. De Paz expressed the university’s gratitude for this recognition, emphasizing that the invitation reaffirms EVSU’s dedication to advancing global engagement.

“Being invited as a Regional Hub for EHEF 2025 is a great honor for EVSU and a milestone in our ongoing efforts toward comprehensive internationalization. We look forward to connecting our students and faculty with world-class European institutions and fostering a spirit of global academic exchange,” said Dr. De Paz.

The Office of Internationalization for Higher Education of EVSU will spearhead the promotion and coordination of the event within the Eastern Visayas region, encouraging participation from students, faculty, and partner institutions who aspire to pursue higher education opportunities in Europe. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY — Two students from Eastern Samar have been granted full college scholarships under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office 8’s Workers’ Organization Development Program (WODP) – Isabelo Delos Reyes (IDR) Scholarship, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to supporting the families of organized workers through education.

The scholarship awardees are James Nathaniel Celada and Joefrey Laurence Tanqui-on, both endorsed by their parents’ respective labor organizations. Celada’s mother serves as president of the Divinubo Community-Based Resource Management Association, while Tanqui-on’s father heads the Pedicab Drivers and Operators Association.

During the awarding ceremony, DOLE-8 Assistant Regional Director Atty. Joan Noya-Nidua commended the scholars for their determination to pursue higher education, saying, “We are deeply proud to invest in your future. You will not only achieve for yourselves but also serve as an inspiration to your families and communities.”

Under the WODP-IDR scholarship, grantees receive full coverage of tuition and school fees, along with a monthly stipend for up to 10 consecutive semesters for degree courses or two years for technical-vocational programs.

Celada, a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering student, expressed gratitude for the assistance, saying the scholarship has eased his family’s financial burden and allowed him to focus on his studies. Tanqui-on, who is taking up Bachelor of Science in Criminology, shared that the scholarship motivates him to work harder toward his goal of becoming a law enforcement professional.

The awarding ceremony was also attended by DOLE-8 Eastern Samar Field Office Head Salvacion Yepez and Senior Labor and Employment Officer Neil Moraleta, who both lauded the students for their perseverance and commitment to learning despite challenges.

The WODP-IDR Scholarship Program honors labor leader Isabelo delos Reyes, known as the “Father of Philippine Labor,” and continues to provide educational opportunities to qualified dependents of workers belonging to legitimate labor organizations, strengthening the link between education and workers’ empowerment.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading two landmark education reform measures authored by Tingog party-list Representatives Andrew Julian Romualdez and Jude Acidre, both aimed at making quality education more inclusive and accessible for all Filipino learners.

The approved measures — House Bill (HB) No. 4744, or the Private Basic Education Vouchers Assistance Act, and HB No. 4745, or the Last Mile Schools Act — reflect TINGOG’s continuing commitment to strengthen the country’s education system and bridge learning gaps between urban and rural communities.

The Private Basic Education Vouchers Assistance Act, a priority bill under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) Common Legislative Agenda, institutionalizes a national voucher program to help families afford private schooling. It also creates a Bureau of Private Education under the Department of Education (DepEd) to oversee assistance programs for students, teachers, and private institutions.

The measure further updates the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (E-GASTPE) Act, or Republic Act No. 8545, reinforcing the role of private schools as partners in easing classroom congestion and expanding access to quality education.

Meanwhile, the Last Mile Schools Act addresses the persistent lack of educational infrastructure in geographically isolated, disadvantaged, and conflict-affected areas (GIDCA). The bill institutionalizes a five-year nationwide program to ensure that schools in remote communities have adequate classrooms, electricity, internet connectivity, and access roads.

The measure mandates the DepEd to coordinate with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Energy (DOE), National Electrification Administration (NEA), and Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to implement infrastructure and connectivity projects for last-mile schools.

“Education should never be a matter of privilege or proximity. Through the Private Basic Education Vouchers Assistance Act and the Last Mile Schools Act, we are making sure that learning opportunities reach every Filipino learner—whether in private school classrooms or in the most remote barangays,” TINGOG said in a statement.

“These reforms affirm our belief that education is both a right and a shared responsibility, and that no child should ever be left behind simply because of circumstance,” it added.
Tingog emphasized that the passage of the two bills demonstrates the shared resolve of Congress and the national government to advance education as a cornerstone of national development.

The party-list reaffirmed its commitment to champion policies that expand learning opportunities, strengthen education governance, and ensure that no Filipino learner is left behind.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)