TACLOBAN CITY – The Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office (L2DEO) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has successfully completed the construction of a riverbank protection and retaining wall along Labiranan Bridge in Barangay San Jose, Dulag, Leyte—a major infrastructure development aimed at boosting the community’s resilience against flooding.

The P77. 19 million project addresses persistent flood threats in the area and aims to safeguard both residential and public infrastructure. It involves the construction of a 313-linear-meter flood control structure, composed of 254 meters upstream and 59 meters downstream segments, each standing 5.8 meters tall and reinforced with structural steel sheet piles for added durability.

“This project ensures that Dulag and nearby communities are better prepared for extreme weather events while minimizing the damage caused by flooding,” said District Engineer Leo Edward Oppura.

He added, “It not only protects lives and property but also shows that the government is committed to prioritizing the safety and well-being of its people.”

Funded under the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) through the Flood Management Program, the project was implemented to ensure continuous access to essential services and prevent disruptions caused by seasonal flooding.

Construction began on March 22, 2024, and was completed on schedule.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY– Department of Education (DepEd) Leyte Division Superintendent Mariza Magan lauded the collective efforts of local stakeholders for the successful construction of a two-story, four-classroom building that will soon serve high school students in Barangay Basud, San Isidro, Leyte.

“Our partners have done everything to establish this building. I also commit that we will do everything to establish this school,” she said during the recent turnover ceremony.
Magan expressed her gratitude to local officials in the district like Rep. Anna Victoria Veloso-Tuazon (3rd district) and the Cabahug family, which donated the lot for their support in building the new facility.

In her speech, Magan praised the residents for having leaders who prioritize the education of their youth. “DepEd is only one sector of our community. We appreciate the leaders who have love for education. As the saying goes, ‘It takes a village to educate a child.’ Barangay Basud is blessed to have these leaders,” she said, urging parents to also contribute to their children’s education beyond the classroom.

Magan assured that DepEd Leyte continues to work to make education accessible to students in their own communities.

The new school building, constructed on a 1.1-hectare lot, will cater to more than 200 students from Basud and neighboring interior barangays, Banat-e and Biasong.
Rep. Veloso-Tuazon, known for her climate-related and sustainability efforts, highlighted the building’s role in addressing climate change impacts and fostering community resilience.

“We invest in human capital and in each other sustainably—through this building, through education,” she said, adding that the structure would serve as a “learning laboratory” for youth collaboration on nature-based solutions, data computing, natural resource accounting, and science-based decision-making.

Veloso-Tuazon also thanked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for flood control mitigation in the building area, emphasizing that the facility would bring substantial benefits to the community.

(RONALD O. REYES)

TACLOBAN CITY – A meaningful partnership between the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) and the Department of Agriculture (DA-8) was formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed on April 4, 2025, at the PRO-8 Multipurpose Hall.
The initiative aims to bring affordable, accessible, and government-subsidized agricultural products closer to the personnel of PRO-8.

The program is part of the national ‘Kadiwa ng Pangulo’ (KNP) initiative, designed to help both consumers and local producers by creating direct market access for farmers and fisherfolk while offering affordable, high-quality products to public servants.
DA Regional Executive Director Andrew Rodolfo Orais, who served as the guest of honor, underscored the value of inter-agency cooperation in tackling food security and economic accessibility.

“With this partnership, we aim to address two major challenges: increasing market access for producers and providing affordable food for consumers,” he said.

“Let us continue to cooperate, collaborate, and converge—for our farmers, fishers, and for our agri-fishery sector. Padayon ha pag-uswag para ha Sinirangan Bisayas!” Orais added.
Following the MOU signing, the ceremonial launch of the Kadiwa store was held at the PRO-8 Grandstand. Strategically located within the PRO-8 compound, the store will provide easy access to fresh produce and other agricultural products for police personnel and their families.

PRO-8 Regional Director PB/Gen. Jay Cumigad expressed strong support for the program, emphasizing its social and economic benefits.

“We fully support the Kadiwa ng Pangulo Program—not only for making affordable goods accessible to our personnel and their families, but also for empowering our farmers and small entrepreneurs,” he said.

“We remain committed to working hand in hand with partner agencies to help build a more inclusive and sustainable future.”

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA/RONALD O. REYES)