In Samar

TACLOBAN CITY-As part of its continuing push for peace and reintegration, the provincial government of Samar formally turned over 17 housing units to former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) during the 39th founding anniversary celebration of the 801st Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army on July 2, 2025.

The beneficiaries are now active peace advocates, having surrendered to government authorities in recent years through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), a national initiative aimed at supporting the transition of former communist insurgents to civilian life.

In her message during the ceremony, Governor Sharee Ann Tan thanked the former rebels for choosing the path of peace and reintegration.

“To our former rebels, thank you for choosing a more peaceful life. You are the living witnesses to how your lives have been better since your return,” she said.

Governor Tan also announced the provincial government’s plan to expand its “Saad nga Balay” housing initiative to accommodate more returnees and sustain the gains of the government’s peace and development programs. She encouraged those still in the mountains to lay down their arms and rejoin society.

Of the 17 units turned over, seven are located in San Jose de Buan under the “Saad nga Balay Para ha Peacebuilders” project. These new units bring the total number of completed houses in the area to 17, with each 150-square-meter unit constructed at a cost of P250,000.

Meanwhile, the remaining 10 newly built housing units in Calbiga were also handed over during the event. Each of these homes was built at a slightly higher cost of P280,000 per unit, possibly due to terrain or logistical factors.

The housing program is part of the province’s broader strategy to promote peace and development in former conflict-affected communities, especially in remote towns like San Jose de Buan and Calbiga — both previously known as strongholds of the NPA.

The turnover was held at the headquarters of the 801st Brigade in Hinabangan town which has played a key role in facilitating the surrender and transition of former insurgents in Samar.

Since 2021, the Samar provincial government, in partnership with the military and national government agencies, has been aggressively implementing localized peace initiatives through infrastructure support, livelihood programs, and community reintegration services for former rebels and their families.

(JOEY A. GABIETA/ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – In a continued effort to bring quality healthcare closer to underserved and rural communities, the Department of Health (DOH-8) in Eastern Visayas has deployed 14 new doctors under its flagship Doctors to the Barrios (DTTB) program.

These doctors—considered medical scholars of the government—will serve in remote and disadvantaged municipalities across the region where the doctor-to-patient ratio remains critically low, particularly in areas without a resident physician or where access to basic health services is limited.

According to Jelyn Malibago, DOH-8 information officer, the deployment follows the national goal of achieving a 1:20,000 doctor-to-population ratio, a standard still unmet in many parts of the region.

“There are still local government units (LGUs) in the region that do not meet the ideal ratio. This program helps address that gap,” she said in an interview.

The newly deployed doctors will serve in Liloan and Anahawan (Southern Leyte); Palompon, Palo, Calubian, Mahaplag, Burauen, Bato, and Babatngon (Leyte); Naval (Biliran); Motiong and Matuguinao (Samar); Arteche (Eastern Samar); and Silvino Lobos (Northern Samar).

For the next three years, these doctors will be assigned to rural health units (RHUs) where they will provide primary care services such as regular medical consultations, vaccinations, health education, maternal and child health services, and emergency care.

They will also help strengthen local health systems by mentoring barangay health workers, assisting in health planning, and improving coordination between the RHU and the community.

The Doctors to the Barrios program, launched in 1993, was created to address the chronic shortage of doctors in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs). It remains one of the DOH’s most impactful programs in improving universal health coverage at the grassroots level.

Aside from municipalities with no existing government physician, the DOH prioritizes areas that are difficult to reach or classified as high-need due to poor access to healthcare facilities.

While these doctors are salaried by the DOH, local government units are mandated to provide board and lodging, honorarium, and ensure the safety of the assigned DTTBs.
Malibago added that although their term is typically for three years, the DOH encourages LGUs to retain or absorb the doctors into permanent local health positions after their service ends to ensure continuity of care.

“We have proposed to these local government units where these doctors are assigned to either extend their services or absorb them,” she said.

(JOEY A. GABIETA, LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)