TACLOBAN CITY – Northern Samar 2nd District Representative Edwin Ongchuan, vice chair of the committee on appropriations, has called for a higher budget allocation for the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to strengthen programs that drive strategic investments and international trade promotion.

During the committee’s budget deliberations on Wednesday, August 27, Ongchuan acknowledged the efforts of the DTI–Board of Investments (BOI) through its One-Stop-Action-Center for Strategic Investments (OSAC-SI), which facilitates the government’s Green Lane projects. These projects are designed to fast-track the approval of big-ticket investments in key industries.

However, Ongchuan pointed out that the program is severely underfunded, receiving only around P5 million, and relies heavily on temporary personnel. Despite handling more than 212 Green Lane projects, the office operates with very limited manpower, resulting in bureaucratic bottlenecks that delay project approvals.

DTI Secretary Maria Cristina Aldeguer-Roque agreed with Ongchuan, stressing that the Green Lane initiative is a flagship program to attract foreign investments and boost industry development.

BOI official Fe Del Rosario echoed these concerns, saying the current resources are insufficient to keep up with the volume of strategic projects.

Ongchuan also flagged the limited budget for other critical DTI programs, including the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) and the Philippine Halal Industry Development Program, which aim to help local exporters tap global markets such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

The Northern Samar lawmaker made two formal recommendations: first, to increase funding for OSAC-SI and the Green Lane initiative; and second, to boost allocations for trade promotion and industry development. He expressed full support for empowering DTI to attract more investments, promote Philippine exports, and create broader economic opportunities.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY – Assistant Regional Director Ma. Margarita Junia has been designated as officer-in-charge District Engineer (OIC-DE) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Eastern Samar District Engineering Office (ESDEO) following the retirement of District Engineer Domy Natividad.

Junia said the designation ensures continuity in the office’s operations while awaiting the formal appointment of a new district engineer. Upon assuming the post, she convened key officials of ESDEO to discuss the status of ongoing infrastructure projects and led a coordination meeting with project engineers.

As part of her oversight role, Junia also joined the regional inspectorate team in inspecting various projects across Eastern Samar. Before returning to Tacloban, she met with House minority floor leader and 4Ps partylist Representative Marcelino C. Libanan and Eastern Samar Lone District Representative Christopher Sheen Gonzales to discuss development priorities.

Junia described the meeting as a “good opportunity to work closely with the province’s leaders to ensure effective implementation of DPWH programs.”

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY — The ongoing electrification project for Higatangan Island in Naval, Biliran through a submarine power cable is expected to spur economic growth and boost tourism on the island, Mayor Gretchen Espina said.

The Higatangan Island Submarine Cable Project, spearheaded by the Biliran Electric Cooperative (BILECO), will provide residents in the island’s two barangays with 24-hour uninterrupted electricity once completed.

Funded by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Electrification Administration (NEA), the P117.7-million project involves laying a four-kilometer submarine cable linking Barangay Jubay in Calubian, Leyte, to Barangay Mabini in Higatangan.

Mayor Espina welcomed the development, emphasizing that stable electricity will not only improve living conditions but also attract investors and tourists to the island, which was declared a special tourism development area under Republic Act 10409 or the Tourism Development Area Act.

“Tourism-wise and economically, this is a huge help. Our people in Higatangan will no longer struggle when putting up businesses or addressing household needs,” Espina said.
Currently, Higatangan residents rely on a diesel generator that supplies power for only eight hours daily, from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. This limited power supply has long been a barrier to economic development, discouraging businesses and reducing the island’s competitiveness as a tourism destination.

“This is a big factor. How can you put up a business if electricity is limited? Investors need to spend on generators, which is costly. With continuous power, development in Higatangan will finally accelerate,” the mayor added.

Higatangan is renowned for its 200-meter shifting sandbar that changes direction with the season, attracting local and domestic tourists, particularly during the annual Higatangan Island Summer Festival (HisFest). The island also features the Capilla del Mar, an underwater chapel with a 12-foot cross and benches symbolizing Biliran’s eight towns.

In 2024, Higatangan was added to the growing list of cruise tourism destinations in Eastern Visayas, further highlighting its potential as a premier tourism hub in the region.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)