TACLOBAN CITY – In a bid to protect its vital water sources and uphold environmental safeguards, the city government of Borongan is taking firm steps to prevent any mining activities within its territory, following a recent social media post by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) that listed several local barangays as open for mining applications.

The post, which mentioned Barangays San Andres, Taboc, Bato, Can-abong, and other areas along the Loom River, raised concerns among residents and city officials.
In response, Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda met with officials from MGB-Region 8, PENRO (Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office), and barangay leaders to clarify the situation.

In a statement, Mayor Agda assured the public that no mining activity has been approved or is underway in Borongan, emphasizing that the local government has already designated the mentioned areas as part of the city’s protected watershed, effectively barring any mining development.

“These areas are within our protected water system and parts of the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP), which are legally off-limits to extractive activities,” Agda said. “We are preparing an ordinance to further formalize this protection.”

He stressed that under national law, no mining application can proceed without a certification from the Sangguniang Panlungsod affirming that the proposed site is not within a protected area. Since Borongan’s watershed is legally protected and serves as the city’s main source of potable water, any mining activity in these areas would be disqualified.

During the meeting, Engineer Margarito Barretto of MGB clarified that the bureau’s post was part of its standard procedure after rejecting the application of JUHEFA Mining Corporation, which sought to explore 2,759.79911 hectares in Borongan.

The application failed to meet five major requirements, including the absence of a certification from the local government declaring the area free from watershed or protected zone designation.

“The post is not an endorsement of mining but a transparency mechanism when an application is denied,” Barretto explained.

Mayor Agda thanked the barangay captains and civil society—including the local Church and media—for their active role in defending the environment. “We remain committed to development that is aligned with our people’s needs and ecological sustainability,” he said.

The Borongan City Council is now poised to pass an ordinance that will certify the identified areas as part of the city’s critical watershed, bolstering local legal defenses against future mining applications.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY– The Philippine Statistics Authority Regional Statistical Services Office VIII (PSA RSSO 8) is one of the recipients of the eGov Kiosk from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) now installed at PSA RSSO 8 2nd Floor, Gaisano Capital, Real St., Tacloban City, Leyte.

The eGov kiosk is the very first e-government portal which geared to level-up digitalization of government services.

It has the one-stop-shop features offering various services from both national and local government agencies aimed to allow clients access links on processes such as securing online appointment, applications and latest instructions without the need of going to each office they intend to visit.

PSA Regional Director, Wilma A. Perante, personally welcomed and explored the eGov Kiosk which was set up at the nearest to the client’s area last June 11 2025.

The kiosk will also assist the public without access to the internet and will reduce long queues and access the same services by downloading the eGov PH Super App. This innovation is the very first e-government portal in the country rolled out in selected Local Government Units (LGUs) and National Government Agency (NGAs) in Region VIII. (PR)

Globe has opened a new Micro Shop in Boracay, reinforcing its commitment to customer-centricity and a culture of malasakit by making essential digital services more accessible to locals and tourists in one of the country’s most iconic destinations.

Located on the ground floor of eMall in Station 3, the store offers Globe’s full suite of services—including mobile prepaid and postpaid, broadband, and lifestyle solutions—right where customers need them most. Whether travelers are booking last-minute tours, professionals are managing remote work, or residents are staying connected with loved ones, the new Micro Shop ensures they get the support they deserve, when they need it.

“We’re proud to bring the Globe experience even closer to the community of Boracay,” said Chai Alano, Vice President of Channel Management Group at Globe. “More than a store, this Micro Shop is a physical expression of our malasakit—our care—for our customers and each other. It enables us to serve better, faster, and more meaningfully.”

Boracay is home to nearly 37,000 residents and attracts millions of visitors annually. According to the Malay Municipal Tourism Office, over 375,000 tourists visited the island in just the first two months of 2025, with the full-year number expected to hit 2.2 million, up from 1.7 million in 2024.

To meet this growing demand, Globe has invested heavily in the region’s network infrastructure. It has constructed or upgraded over 40 cell sites in Boracay alone, deployed more than 30 outdoor 5G sites, and rolled out 50 additional towers across Aklan province to support sustained growth.

The new Micro Shop underscores Globe’s role not just as a service provider, but as a partner in community development—committed to bridging digital gaps, creating economic value, and enabling progress through connectivity. (PR)

ORMOC CITY-A heated argument between two men ended in violence after one of them was stabbed with a steel bar around 12:20 pm on June 17, 2025, in Barangay Bobonon, Alangalang, Leyte.

The victim, identified only as alias “Tino,” of legal age, married, and unemployed, is currently recovering at the Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC) in Tacloban City following the incident.

Police identified the suspect as “Natoy,” 64, single, a farm laborer, and a fellow resident of Barangay Bobonon.

According to the Alangalang Municipal Police Station (MPS), the incident was triggered by a verbal altercation between the two. The argument escalated, prompting the suspect to stab the victim in the right side of the chest using a pointed steel bar.

Responding police officers immediately arrested the suspect at the scene. He was informed of the reason for his arrest and was read his constitutional rights in a language he fully understood.

The suspect is now in custody at Alangalang MPS for proper disposition, while authorities continue their investigation to determine the full circumstances of the incident.

(ROBERT DEJON)