TACLOBAN CITY — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the region has declared the coastal waters of Zumarraga Island in Samar free from toxic red tide, but maintained a shellfish ban in Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar after laboratory tests confirmed the continued presence of harmful toxins.

In a fisheries advisory dated December 23, 2025, BFAR said shellfish meat samples collected from Matarinao Bay—covering the coastal municipalities of General MacArthur, Quinapondan, Hernani, and Salcedo—tested positive for saxitoxin, a potent toxin linked to red tide. The agency warned that all types of shellfish and Acetes species, locally known as alamang or hipon, gathered from the bay are unsafe for human consumption.

BFAR also placed several other coastal areas under local red tide warning after seawater samples tested positive for Pyrodinium bahamense, a dinoflagellate species known to produce saxitoxin. These areas include Guiuan in Eastern Samar, Cancabato Bay in Tacloban City, and Irong-Irong Bay in Catbalogan City, Samar.

Red tide is a naturally occurring phenomenon caused by the rapid proliferation of microscopic algae in coastal waters. Certain species, such as Pyrodinium bahamense, produce toxins that can accumulate in shellfish and cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) when consumed. PSP symptoms range from numbness and dizziness to severe respiratory distress, and may be fatal in extreme cases.

To safeguard public health, BFAR reiterated its advisory urging the public to refrain from gathering, selling, and eating shellfish and alamang from affected areas until the ban is officially lifted.

The agency clarified, however, that fish, squid, shrimp, and crabs caught in these waters remain safe for consumption, provided they are fresh and that internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed and thoroughly washed before cooking.

BFAR said it continues to regularly monitor coastal waters and conduct laboratory analyses of seawater and shellfish samples across Eastern Visayas, and will issue updated advisories once toxin levels return to safe limits.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Social Security System (SSS) in Eastern Visayas strengthened its ties with local media during its 2025 Media Appreciation Dinner, held on December 16, 2025, at Antonio’s Event Center in Barangay 83, San Jose Paraiso, this city.

The event highlighted the agency’s recognition of the critical role media plays in informing the public about social security programs, benefits, and services.

Journalists and media practitioners from Tacloban, Ormoc, and Catbalogan attended the gathering, which served as a platform for the SSS to express gratitude for the media’s consistent support in disseminating accurate and timely information to members and beneficiaries.

SSS Senior Vice President for the Visayas Operations Group, Atty. Alberto Montalbo, said the dinner was a way to honor media organizations that have partnered with the agency in promoting public awareness.

“This is the first time we held our Media Appreciation Dinner in December. We wanted to align the event with the holiday season, a perfect time to extend our gratitude to our media partners who help amplify our programs,” he said.

Certificates of appreciation, seasonal giveaways, and other tokens were presented to media representatives in recognition of their sustained contributions to SSS information campaigns and advocacy initiatives.

The evening’s program included a formal dinner, welcome and Christmas messages from SSS officials, raffle draws, live musical performances, and the awarding of certificates to participating media organizations.

SSS Vice President for the Visayas Central 2 Division, Atty. Porferio Salidaga Jr., underscored the media’s essential role in maintaining public trust and ensuring that SSS programs and services effectively reach members and beneficiaries across the region.

Media organizations, including the Leyte Samar Daily Express, expressed appreciation to SSS for the recognition, citing the event as a meaningful acknowledgment of the media’s role in advancing public service and social protection advocacy in Eastern Visayas.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Tingog party-list has voiced full support for President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.’s directive to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to accelerate the implementation of the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP) Act, a move aimed at expanding access to higher education through flexible and inclusive learning pathways.

Authored and championed by Tingog Representatives Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Avorque Acidre, the ETEEAP Act (Republic Act No. 12124) institutionalizes lifelong learning by recognizing prior work experience, non-formal education, and skills acquired outside the traditional classroom. The program primarily benefits working Filipinos, overseas Filipino workers, adult learners, and individuals unable to complete college through conventional means.

President Marcos issued the directive during the presentation of the law’s implementing rules and regulations, stressing the need for higher education institutions and CHED to ensure a swift and effective rollout.

Rep. Romualdez emphasized that the law seeks to make higher education more accessible by validating skills and experience gained outside formal schooling. Rep. Acidre highlighted the importance of adapting learning opportunities to the realities of Filipinos, reinforcing that education should extend beyond conventional classroom settings.

Tingog party-list reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the full implementation of the ETEEAP Act, advancing lifelong, flexible, and inclusive learning opportunities for all.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)