TACLOBAN CITY – The seaweed industry in Leyte is set for a major revival as the provincial government rolls out scientific interventions to address declining yields linked to global warming, according to the Provincial Agriculture Office(PAO).

The initiative, led by Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla, is in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU)-Carigara Campus, De La Salle University, and various local government units.

Central to the effort is the project titled “Development of Seaweed Stress Biosensor and Water Characterization of Seaweed Farms in Leyte,” launched in 2022 to monitor water quality and environmental conditions critical to seaweed farming. The ultimate goal: design a biosensor that detects early stress signals in seaweed, enabling timely interventions.

Recently, the province acquired these biosensors for deployment in major seaweed farms, starting in Barangay Dawahon in Bato town. The device monitors key parameters such as dissolved oxygen, salinity, pH level, temperature, and light intensity—factors essential for growth and yield. It also flags early disease symptoms, giving farmers time to prevent large-scale losses.

“This technology gives us real-time data to help farmers decide which varieties to plant and when, ensuring higher yields and resilience against environmental stress,” the PAO said.
Active seaweed farms in Leyte include Barangay Dawahon in Bato, Barangays Sabang and Kawayan in Tabango, Barangay Libjo in Merida, Barangay Cambinoy in Palompon, and Barangay Gov. E. Jaro in Babatngon, with expansion planned in Calubian.

The province cultivates three main varieties: Eucheuma denticulatum, Kappaphycus alvarezii, and Kappaphycus estrianum, primarily marketed in Tacloban and Cebu.

With global demand for carrageenan—an extract from seaweed—on the rise, officials believe the introduction of biosensors could help Leyte farmers regain competitiveness and protect a livelihood that supports hundreds of coastal families.

(JOEY A. GABIETA/ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan met with Police Brigadier General Jason Capoy, the newly installed regional director of Police Regional Office 8, during a courtesy visit at Camp Ruperto K. Kangleon in Palo, Leyte.

The meeting, held on Friday, August 22, focused on sustaining peace and security across Samar and the region.

Tan highlighted her administration’s priorities, including the One Values Program (OVP), a moral recovery and values transformation campaign promoting family unity, youth development, women and children’s welfare, and environmental protection.

PBGen Capoy assured support for Samar’s initiatives and pledged a stronger partnership with local governments to curb criminality, address insurgency, and enhance public safety.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – Two bills seeking the construction of modern fishports with ice plants and cold storage in Eastern Samar’s coastal towns of Dolores and Oras have been filed in the House of Representatives to boost the province’s fishing industry.

Eastern Samar Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales authored the measures, co-signed by House Minority Leader and 4Ps party-list Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan, to help fisherfolk reduce post-harvest losses, maintain product quality, and gain better market access.

“These fishport projects are long overdue investments in our seaside communities. Our fisherfolk deserve the same level of infrastructure support that we provide to farmers,” Gonzales said.

House Bill 123, or the Dolores Fish Port Act, proposes a fully equipped fishport in Barangay Japitan, Dolores, while House Bill 124, or the Oras Fish Port Act, seeks a similar facility in Barangay Tawagan, Oras.

Both projects will include ice plants and cold storage facilities to prolong fish freshness and improve pricing.

Gonzales said the projects will also create jobs, attract allied industries, and enhance food security. The Department of Agriculture, through the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, will build and operate the facilities before turning them over to local governments.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY – Northern Samar Rep. Edwin Ongchuan has called on the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) to extend incentives and assistance beyond national athletes, stressing the importance of supporting grassroots sports programs during a congressional hearing on the agency’s proposed 2026 budget.

Ongchuan said local and regional athletes need recognition and tangible investment to develop their potential, pointing out that current Pagcor incentives, coursed through the Philippine Sports Commission, focus mainly on national and international competitors.

“With Pagcor reporting P111 billion in revenue in 2024 and expecting to surpass targets in 2025, a portion of these resources should be allocated to nurture athletic talent across the country,” Ongchuan said.

The lawmaker also urged Pagcor to include regional athletes in its corporate social responsibility programs, which currently cover sports, education, health, disaster response, and community development.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)