House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs Chairperson and TINGOG Party-list Representative Jude Acidre joins maritime leaders at the SMOU Manila Nite and Wavelink CadetsPlus Graduation held on May 23, 2025, at Shangri-La The Fort, Manila. Photo courtesy of Johannes Casis / TINGOG Party-list
House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs Chairperson and TINGOG Party-list Representative Jude Acidre joins maritime leaders at the SMOU Manila Nite and Wavelink CadetsPlus Graduation held on May 23, 2025, at Shangri-La The Fort, Manila. Photo courtesy of Johannes Casis / TINGOG Party-list
TACLOBAN CITY – Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, chair of the House committee on overseas workers affairs, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting Filipino seafarers during the Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union (SMOU) Manila Nite and Wavelink CadetsPlus graduation at Shangri-La The Fort, Manila.
Addressing maritime leaders and cadet families, Acidre praised the 101 graduates—including 12 women—of the CadetsPlus Program, which has trained over 1,400 Filipinos since 2008. He commended SMOU’s decades-long efforts to uphold seafarer rights and recognized key union leaders and Singaporean diplomats for their support.
Acidre highlighted the recent passage of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, a law that institutionalizes protections before, during, and after deployment. He also condemned ambulance chasing and pushed for the creation of the Migrant Worker Relations Commission to fairly handle labor claims.
In line with long-term seafarer support, he backed reforms to the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) and announced the launch of Seafarer Hubs—safe spaces in major ports for rest and access to key services.
“Filipinos don’t just work at sea—we lead,” Acidre declared, emphasizing the country’s growing role in global maritime leadership.
ORMOC CITY– A night of casual drinking ended in tragedy when a heated altercation between two drinking buddies led to a fatal stabbing early Sunday morning, May 25, in Barangay Pagsulhugon, Babatngon, Leyte.
The victim, identified by police as alias “Marvs,” 24, a single ice cream vendor and resident of Barangay Lukay, was stabbed in the chest following a verbal dispute. The suspect, alias “Ric,” 19, single and unemployed, is a resident of Barangay Naga-Asan, also in Babatngon.
According to the initial investigation by the Babatngon Municipal Police Station, the incident occurred around 1:30 am while the group was having a drinking session in front of Felesa Agullon’s store. The argument between the two escalated quickly, prompting the suspect to draw a knife and stab the victim.
Friends at the scene rushed the wounded “Marvs” to the Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC) in Tacloban City. However, he was declared dead on arrival by his attending physician.
The suspect later voluntarily surrendered to Babatngon police. The knife used in the stabbing was not recovered as of this report. He remains in police custody pending further investigation and the filing of appropriate charges.
ORMOC CITY-Two individuals were killed in a gruesome road accident involving a motorcycle with sidecar and a heavily loaded dump truck that lost its brakes along a downhill stretch of the Maharlika Highway in Barangay Alejandrea, Jiabong, Samar around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 24.
According to authorities, the two victims, who were aboard the motorcycle with sidecar, were mutilated beyond recognition due to the force of the collision. Only body parts were recovered and later assembled at a local funeral home. The victims remain unidentified as of this writing.
The ten-wheeler dump truck, bearing plate number NKK 5599, is owned by Rush Company and was reportedly carrying a full load of cement at the time of the incident. Its driver, identified only as “Bern,” 37, from Barangay Sagkahan, Tacloban City, and his two helpers, “Lix,” 24, and “Fred,” 34, both from Barangay Canlapwas, Catbalogan City, sustained injuries and were taken to the Samar Provincial Hospital.
Based on the initial investigation by personnel of the Jiabong Municipal Police Station, led by PCpl. Roben Jones Coscolluela, the motorcycle with sidecar was navigating a downhill slope when it allegedly lost its brakes and veered into the opposite lane, colliding head-on with the approaching dump truck.
The impact sent the dump truck off the road, with the driver and his helpers becoming briefly trapped in the vehicle’s cabin before being rescued and rushed for medical treatment.
Authorities are still working to confirm the identities of the fatalities and have launched a deeper probe into the accident, including a mechanical inspection of both vehicles involved.
DECONGESTION. With the two ports in Calbayog City now being used as routes in going to Leyte side following the 3-ton load limit at the San Juanico Bridge, the city government has designed a plan to ensure that there will be no truck congestion. (CALBAYOG CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)
DECONGESTION. With the two ports in Calbayog City now being used as routes in going to Leyte side following the 3-ton load limit at the San Juanico Bridge, the city government has designed a plan to ensure that there will be no truck congestion. (CALBAYOG CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)
TACLOBAN CITY – The city government of Calbayog has launched a coordinated response to manage traffic congestion and assist affected individuals at Calbayog City Port and Maguinoo Port, now serving as alternative routes due to the load restrictions imposed on the San Juanico Bridge.
The San Juanico Bridge, which connects Samar and Leyte, has been subjected to weight limitations following structural concerns, prompting rerouting of heavy cargo traffic to maritime alternatives.
This shift has caused logistical bottlenecks in Calbayog, where ports are now key transit points for goods and vehicles.
To address the situation, Mayor Raymund Uy has mobilized several city agencies to ensure order and support for those impacted.
The Calbayog Public Order and Safety Office (CAPOSO) has been tasked with overseeing vehicular traffic, while the Community Program Coordinator manages the orderly queuing of trucks and vehicles awaiting embarkation.
The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) has deployed its emergency management team to both ports to respond swiftly to any incidents. Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in partnership with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) and barangay health workers, is distributing food packs to stranded truck drivers. The Philippine National Police (PNP)-Calbayog is also on-site to ensure peace and security.
Mayor Uy clarified that while Calbayog has not been severely affected by the bridge restriction due to its main supply lines coming from Cebu, the city did experience minor disruptions in fuel supply from Leyte. He assured that these have since been addressed through rerouting from San Isidro in Northern Samar and the Bicol Region.
TRIAL DOCKING. As local governments brace for economic disruption due to the weight limit imposed on the San Juanico Bridge, a trial docking was conducted on Thursday, May 22, at the fish landing port in Barangay Amandayehan, Basey, Samar. The port is being considered as an alternative route for vessels transporting heavy vehicles barred from crossing the bridge pending urgent repairs. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
TRIAL DOCKING. As local governments brace for economic disruption due to the weight limit imposed on the San Juanico Bridge, a trial docking was conducted on Thursday, May 22, at the fish landing port in Barangay Amandayehan, Basey, Samar. The port is being considered as an alternative route for vessels transporting heavy vehicles barred from crossing the bridge pending urgent repairs. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
Due to San Juanico Bridge weight limit
TACLOBAN CITY – Local government units (LGUs) across Eastern Visayas are urgently mobilizing to mitigate the economic and logistical disruptions caused by new vehicle weight restrictions on the San Juanico Bridge, the vital link between Leyte and Samar islands.
On May 14, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) imposed a temporary ban on vehicles weighing more than three tons from crossing the bridge, citing safety concerns. The restriction has since strained supply chains, pushed up commodity prices, and impacted public services across the region.
In Tacloban City, the region’s main commercial hub, the impact of the three-ton weight limitation of vehicles at the iconic bridge could also be felt.
Janis Canta, City Planning and Development Officer, warned that the city may soon experience shortages of fuel and essential goods, as demands rise from surrounding provinces.
“Tacloban is the supply hub of Eastern Visayas. This bridge restriction doesn’t just affect us—it affects the entire region,” Canta said on Thursday, May 22.
“We’ve just regained economic momentum after the pandemic, and now we face a new challenge. We’re appealing to the national government for urgent intervention to keep basic supplies moving.”
In Basey, Samar, Mayor Luz Ponferrada expressed concern about possible food shortages if no alternate transport route is made available.
“My fear is hunger,” Ponferrada said. “If we don’t have an alternative for heavy trucks to transport essential goods, our people will suffer.”
As a temporary solution, officials have identified the fish port in Barangay Amandayehan, Basey as a potential roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) route for heavy vehicles.
Its operation is expected to start once the rehabilitation of the fish port will be completed.
Meanwhile, the provincial government of Samar declared a state of emergency on May 20, allowing the use of its calamity fund to cushion the economic impact and speed up local response efforts.
In Eastern Samar, Oras Mayor Roy Ador reported a “large impact” on both the local economy and essential services.
“Consumers are now complaining about rising prices of goods,” Ador said in a statement on May 21.
“Our economic and commercial office has begun investigating and found that some establishments have imposed price increases. We’ve recommended a price freeze as we hold focused discussions with stakeholders to find practical solutions.”
Ador also noted that public services such as emergency patient transport and garbage collection are being affected by fuel shortages, as fuel deliveries face delays.
In Borongan City, the provincial capital, Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda convened a meeting with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the local Chamber of Commerce to assess the emerging crisis.
“We will create a special task force to monitor supply chains, price levels, and address any disruptions caused by the weight restriction,” Agda said in a public post.
“We urge residents to remain calm, avoid panic buying, and rely only on official information.”
And in Calbayog City, in response to supply chain disruptions caused by restrictions on San Juanico Bridge, its local price coordinating council (LPCC), chaired by Mayor Raymund Uy, convened to stabilize prices.
The meeting led to the approval of price ceilings: P 420 per kilo for pork and P215 for whole chicken. These limits apply to public markets, supermarkets, and meat shops, but not to ‘talipapa’ or convenience stores.
Supermarkets and distributors assured the city of sufficient supply. Meanwhile, the city government has lifted the truck ban and will enforce the display of price tags on essential goods.
COCONUT INDUSTRIAL PARK. The provincial government of Northern Samar, as represented by Governor Edwin Ongchuan(second from right), entered an agreement on May 18 with the Island Fun, as represented by its CEO Stephen Chen, for the establishment of a coconut industrial park in Bobon town which is expected to boost the coconut industry in the province. Among the witnesses of the signing were Agriculture Sec.Francisco Tiu-Laurel, Jr., and Rep. Paul Daza. (story page 2)
(THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNEMNT OF NORTHERN SAMAR)
COCONUT INDUSTRIAL PARK. The provincial government of Northern Samar, as represented by Governor Edwin Ongchuan(second from right), entered an agreement on May 18 with the Island Fun, as represented by its CEO Stephen Chen, for the establishment of a coconut industrial park in Bobon town which is expected to boost the coconut industry in the province. Among the witnesses of the signing were Agriculture Sec.Francisco Tiu-Laurel, Jr., and Rep. Paul Daza. (story page 2) (THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNEMNT OF NORTHERN SAMAR)
TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial government of Northern Samar has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with private firm Island Fun for the establishment of a Coconut Industrial Park, a landmark project aimed at modernizing the province’s coconut industry.
The MOU was signed by Governor Edwin Ongchuan and Island Fun CEO Stephen Chen during the Abaca and Coconut Farmers Summit on May 18, 2025, held at the Ibabao Hall of the provincial capitol in Catarman.
The signing was witnessed by Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Usec. Arnold Atienza of PhilFIDA, DA-8 Regional Executive Director Andrew Orais, Northern Samar 1st District Representative Paul Daza, Provincial Agriculturist Jose Luis Acompañado, and Engr. Reynato Dubongco of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Northern Samar.
The project aims to shift Northern Samar’s coconut sector from raw production to advanced, value-added processing, turning the province into a competitive player in both domestic and international markets.
The 3.5-hectare coconut industrial park, to be built in Barangay San Isidro, Bobon, will have the capacity to process up to 300,000 coconuts daily. The facility will integrate various stages of production—extracting, manufacturing, and packaging a range of high-value coconut-based products for export.
The first phase of development includes a P200 million investment for the construction of core infrastructure, recruitment of skilled workers, and commencement of operations. This marks the beginning of a P700 million total investment for the full implementation of the industrial park.
According to the PCA, Northern Samar ranked 18th among the country’s top coconut-producing provinces, with 315,000 metric tons harvested in 2023. The province is home to around 86,000 registered coconut farmers, including landowners, farm workers, and tenants.
Despite this output, local value-added processing remains minimal. The province currently has only one oil mill, one coco sugar producer, two virgin coconut oil manufacturers, and three coco coir producers—highlighting the need for integrated industrial development to stimulate rural income and industry growth.
