In Eastern Samar

TACLOBAN CITY — Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone is urging for the expedited opening of the Felipe Abrigo Memorial Hospital, a key healthcare facility aimed at addressing the increasing medical needs of residents in southern part of the province.
In a meeting with the provincial government team and partners from the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Gov. Evardone emphasized the urgency of completing the hospital’s construction, highlighting the growing demand for healthcare services in the region.

The hospital, located in the town of Guiuan, is expected to provide vital medical care to residents who currently face limited access to healthcare services.

“There’s been some delay already, but many factors, including power supply issues, are beyond our control,” Governor Evardone stated as quoted by the Eastern Samar Provincial Information Office on Monday, April 28.

The governor referred to ongoing problems with the provincial power supply, such as low voltage during peak hours, which have impacted the project’s completion. To resolve this, the provincial government has allocated additional funding for generators to ensure a steady power supply for the hospital.

“We have no other option; we have to rely on generators,” Gov. Evardone said.
In addition to addressing infrastructure concerns, Gov. Evardone expressed his appreciation to the KOICA team for their ongoing project monitoring and the upcoming donation of medical equipment, which will help ensure the hospital’s readiness once operational.
The Felipe Abrigo Memorial Hospital is one of several healthcare facilities under the provincial government’s administration.

Other notable hospitals include the Eastern Samar Provincial Hospital and the Borongan District Hospital, both of which provide essential services to the people of Eastern Samar.
These hospitals play a critical role in supporting the province’s healthcare system, and the opening of the Felipe Abrigo Memorial Hospital is expected to significantly alleviate the pressure on existing facilities.

Gov. Evardone also acknowledged the collective efforts of the provincial government and its partners in seeing the project through to completion, stressing that the hospital will be a vital addition to the region’s healthcare infrastructure.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY – At least 18 amnesty applications filed with the Local Amnesty Board (LAB) in Catbalogan City are being finalized for resolution and endorsement to the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) Executive Committee and the Office of the President for approval.

Another 25 applications are currently under review, while seven are undergoing further validation.

A marathon case conference was recently conducted by members of LAB Catbalogan to thoroughly examine the documents and personal narratives submitted by the applicants.
Amnesty applicants were present during the validation proceedings.

The LAB Catbalogan members are scheduled to hold another validation conference today, Monday, April 28, and tomorrow, April 29.

The government’s amnesty program offers former rebels the opportunity to reintegrate into society, promoting healing, reconciliation, and ensuring due process and protection under the law.

Under Proclamation No. 404, amnesty extinguishes the criminal liability of former New People’s Army (NPA) members, except for those involved in crimes such as human trafficking, rape, child abuse, and sexual assault, who are ineligible to apply.

Since the creation of the local amnesty board, a total of 378 former rebels from the Samar provinces have submitted their amnesty applications between December 2024 and April 2025.

The number of applicants is expected to rise as outreach activities continue, led by LAB Catbalogan in partnership with various government agencies, including the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), Department of Justice – National Prosecution Service, Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines 8th Infantry Division (AFP-8ID), and the Provincial Government of Samar.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications before the program deadline on March 23, 2026.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Civil society leaders from the Philippines made a strong call for urgent ocean protection during the 10th Our Ocean Conference (OOC) held in Busan, South Korea, pushing for key legislation to safeguard marine ecosystems such as Panaon Island in Southern Leyte.

Oceana Philippines and the Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) led the appeal, urging President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to immediately sign the bill declaring Panaon Island a Protected Seascape, and to prioritize the passage of the National Coastal Greenbelt Act.

Both measures are crucial steps toward achieving the country’s global commitment to the “30×30” goal of protecting 30% of the planet’s land and ocean by 2030, they said.

“Panaon Island is a treasure—not just for the Philippines but for the world,” said Atty. Liza Osorio, acting vice president of Oceana in the Philippines in a press statement issued on Monday, April 28.

“It’s part of the world’s 50 priority reefs, identified for their resilience against climate change. Now, all that stands between this globally significant site and meaningful protection is the President’s signature,” she added.

Oceana, the largest international advocacy organization solely dedicated to ocean conservation, participated in a high-level side event organized by Bloomberg Philanthropies during the three-day conference which is to end on Wednesday, April 30, which highlighted leadership efforts in Asia and the Pacific toward ocean conservation, including the Philippines’ initiatives.

Panaon Island is celebrated for its whale shark tourism—an example of sustainable, community-led ecotourism—and is recognized as an Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA) and an Important Marine Mammal Area (IMMA), being a critical habitat for threatened and migratory marine species.

“Our generation stands to inherit polluted waters, dying reefs, and collapsed fisheries,” said Jake Tabara, national youth coordinator of the ATM Youth Network.

“But we are not giving up. We are working hard with older generations to ensure laws like the Panaon Island Protected Seascape Act and the National Coastal Greenbelt Act are passed, to save our oceans and our future.”

The proposed National Coastal Greenbelt Act seeks to establish mangrove and beach forest zones to serve as natural barriers against coastal hazards, helping stabilize shorelines, store carbon, and provide critical habitats for marine life.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has recognized these greenbelt zones as part of the country’s Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

“These policy measures can turn an ocean in crisis into an ocean of hope,” Osorio added, reflecting the conference’s theme, “Our Ocean, Our Action.”

The Our Ocean Conference is a major global event that brings together government leaders, scientists, civil society groups, and businesses to forge new commitments for ocean protection and climate resilience.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)