VILLABA, Leyte — Seven public schools and the rural health unit in this town received nearly P1 million worth of school furniture and medical supplies from Latter-day Saint Charities to help address their basic needs.

The humanitarian arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated P677,600 worth of plastic armchairs to seven recipient schools and P236,500 worth of medical supplies to the Villaba Rural Health Unit, for a combined value of P914,100.

The donations were formally turned over Monday at Villaba South Central School, with school heads from the seven recipient campuses and local health workers attending the ceremony.

Vice Mayor Edgar Veloso accepted the donations on behalf of the local government unit, saying the assistance would help address needs that the municipality could not fully meet amid limited resources.

“With the ongoing crisis, the local government unit cannot provide all the needs of the people, but there are donors willing to help,” Veloso said. “I would like to express my sincere appreciation for these generous contributions.”

Helen Paroco, head teacher of Hinabuyan National High School, said the school had been requesting new armchairs since 2022 after students were forced to use worn-out chairs.
“The school started using worn-out chairs for students to sit on. We have been making requests since 2022. From a simple request, we now celebrate a reality,” Paroco said.
The medical supplies turned over to the municipal health office included rapid dengue test kits, sphygmomanometers, stethoscopes, fetal dopplers, glucometers, glucometer strips, and glucometer lancets.

Municipal Health Officer Oliver Razo said the equipment would help the rural health unit maximize its limited resources and improve services for residents who depend on the facility for their health needs.

“People rely solely on RHU facilities for their health needs. This donation will enable us to deliver timely and quality health services, bringing hope and comfort to the people of Villaba,” Razo said.

Arnold Daradal, president of the Church’s Ormoc Philippines Stake, said the donation was part of the Church’s efforts to serve communities regardless of religious affiliation.

“Christ taught us the importance of service and loving our neighbors. We are trying to bless not just the church members, but also non-members because we believe that all of us are children of God,” Daradal said.

LDS Charities carries out humanitarian initiatives aimed at relieving suffering, promoting self-reliance, and encouraging individuals and communities to serve others.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Public school teachers and school leaders now have a clearer path for promotion and professional advancement following the issuance of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of a law institutionalizing expanded career progression in the education sector.

Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre welcomed the IRR of Republic Act No. 12288, or the Career Progression System for Public School Teachers and School Leaders Act, saying the rules provide a more sustainable framework for educators to advance based on merit, competence, qualifications, and professional standards.

The law institutionalizes expanded career pathways in classroom teaching and school administration, giving teachers opportunities for professional growth and higher compensation without necessarily having to leave classroom teaching.

The reform builds on Executive Order No. 174, issued in 2022, which established the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) System.

During the 19th Congress, Tingog helped advance the measure through House Bill No. 10270, principally authored by Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Acidre. The bill was later consolidated with Senate Bill No. 3000 and enacted as RA 12288, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed into law on Sept. 12, 2025.

“By institutionalizing career progression through legislation, we affirmed that supporting the professional growth of our teachers is a continuing responsibility of the State,” Acidre said.

Under the new system, the teaching career track has been expanded up to Master Teacher VI, while the school administration track extends to School Principal V.

Acidre said the issuance of the IRR marks the shift from legislation to actual implementation, as the rules lay down procedures for promotion and reclassification, transition arrangements for incumbent personnel, professional development, and the responsibilities of government agencies involved in the program.

He also welcomed the release of an additional P8.68 billion to the Department of Education for the continued implementation of the ECP System.

The funding will cover salary differentials for 93,344 public school personnel whose positions were reclassified, including reclassifications for fiscal years 2025 and 2026.
For 2027, the government has proposed P12.09 billion for the ECP System under the national budget. The proposed allocation would support 135,063 position reclassifications, further expanding opportunities for qualified teachers and school leaders.

“We have moved from policy, to legislation, and now to implementation. Ang hamon ngayon is to make sure that the opportunities we fought to put into law are translated into a system that our teachers can actually access and experience,” Acidre said.

He said the reform is particularly significant during National Teachers’ Month, when the country recognizes the contributions of educators.

Acidre said recognition of teachers should go beyond appreciation and include meaningful opportunities for professional growth and advancement within the teaching profession.
“Our teachers spend their lives helping young Filipinos see a future for themselves. We owe it to them to build a system where they, too, can look ahead and see a future in the profession they have chosen to serve,” he said.

(LIZBETH ANN A.ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Farmers and fisherfolk in Eastern Samar received more than P15.2 million in agricultural assistance, including farm inputs, livestock supplies, livelihood projects and rice sold at a subsidized price, during a government service caravan held at the Capitol Gymnasium.

A total of P15,236,428 worth of interventions was distributed during the “Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat para sa Lahat” as part of the government’s nationwide effort to bring livelihood, agricultural and other public services closer to communities.

Assistant Secretary Rosalinda Bautista, who delivered the President’s message during the event, highlighted government programs providing health, employment and livelihood assistance directly to communities.

The Department of Agriculture (DA-8), represented by OIC-Regional Technical Director for Operations Francisco Rosaroso, led the turnover of the agricultural assistance with Eastern Samar Gov. Ralph Vincent Evardone.

The package included one rain shelter under the High Value Crops Development Program, two coconut nurseries under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan, and 11 Livelihood Opportunities and Viable Enterprise (LOVE) projects.

Also distributed were 23 sets of veterinary drugs, dewormers and biologics under the National Livestock Program, six sets of hybrid rice seeds and inorganic fertilizers for irrigated areas during the dry season, and 500 packets of vegetable seeds.

Four young agripreneurs were also recognized as awardees of the Youth Farmers Challenge, which supports young people engaged in agricultural enterprises.

Meanwhile, 10 local farmer groups joined the Kadiwa ng Pangulo market, allowing farmers to sell their produce directly to consumers.

Anita Dadulla, general manager of the Balangkayan Agriculture Cooperative, said the market provided farmer groups with an opportunity to find buyers while giving consumers access to fresh and affordable agricultural products.

“This is a huge help to our cooperative as well as to other farmers. They no longer struggle to sell their harvests, and at the same time, we are able to help consumers eat fresh and affordable products,” Dadulla said.

The DA also facilitated the issuance of the Authority to Withdraw rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) for the Benteng Bigas Meron Na program.

A total of 150 sacks of rice were released under the program at PHP20 per kilogram.
Charlita Pomentil, a 4Ps beneficiary from San Julian, said the subsidized rice helped her household manage its expenses.

“It is good that this is available because it is a big help, especially in budgeting. It allows us to reduce our expenses. I am thankful that I was able to avail of this opportunity,” Pomentil said.

For 65-year-old vegetable farmer Elias Veloso of Borongan City, the P20-per-kilogram rice also meant savings compared with prevailing market prices.

“We are thankful because this is a big help to us. We can save a lot by buying rice at P20 per kilogram compared with rice that costs P60 per kilogram,” Veloso said.

The agricultural assistance formed part of the services delivered during the Handog ng Pangulo event, which brought together government agencies to provide various programs and interventions to communities across Eastern Samar.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Leyte Rep. Ana Victoria Veloso-Tuazon said she is praying for fellow Leyte lawmaker and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez as he faces a P7.44-billion plunder case before the Sandiganbayan.

Veloso-Tuazon, who represents Leyte’s third congressional district, said she considers Romualdez a supportive colleague who has looked after the interests of Eastern Visayas lawmakers.

“I pray for him. I view him as very kind and always on the lookout for Eastern Visayas legislators,” Veloso-Tuazon said in an interview.

She said both she and Romualdez, being lawyers, understand the importance of following the law as he confronts the criminal case.

“We are lawyers; we understand what it is to be law-abiding citizens,” she said.
The Ombudsman filed the plunder case against Romualdez and three others on Sept. 7, accusing them of receiving commissions, shares, kickbacks and other financial benefits totaling at least P7.44 billion in connection with government projects implemented from 2022 to 2025.

Also charged were former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, Romualdez’s former personal aide Joselyn Tragua Sereño, and Felicito Cristobal Guevarra, president of Samchan Foreign Exchange Corp.

Prosecutors alleged that the money came from contractors and other entities involved in flood control, infrastructure and other government projects.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division later issued warrants of arrest against Romualdez and his co-accused after finding probable cause based on the prosecution’s records.
The court stressed that the issuance of arrest warrants does not establish guilt and that the accused remain presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Romualdez was initially arrested while confined at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City before being transferred to the Philippine General Hospital for an independent medical examination.

On Sept. 14, the Sandiganbayan ordered his transfer to the New Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Payatas after government doctors determined that he was stable and no longer needed acute-care hospital confinement.

Romualdez, a lawyer and incumbent representative of Leyte’s first congressional district, is a cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The Palace has said the administration respects the Ombudsman’s case and that anyone found accountable should face the consequences regardless of whether the person is a relative, friend, political ally or opponent.

Despite Romualdez’s legal troubles, Veloso-Tuazon said lawmakers continue to perform their legislative and constituency duties.

“We are still doing our work as legislators regardless of what is being said, and restore faith in the legislative system. Maybe the people understand that much has to be done and we rise to the occasion,” she said.

Recent OCTA Research findings showed that 38% of adult Filipinos expressed trust in the House of Representatives during the second quarter of 2026, up from 36% in the first quarter.

The same survey found that 64% of respondents said their own district representative was doing a good job representing their constituency, while 27% disagreed and 9% were undecided.

Romualdez’s congressional office in Tacloban City continues to operate and provide assistance to constituents of Leyte’s first district, which includes Tacloban City and seven municipalities.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)