ORMOC CITY— A 71-year-old man was found dead inside his home after a fire, believed to have been caused by faulty electrical wiring, broke out on the second floor of his house in Brgy. 5, Catbalogan City on the morning of Tuesday, January 20.

The victim, identified as alias “Mario”, was bedridden at the time of the fire. His 67-year-old common-law wife, alias “Melisa”, a vendor, survived after being on the ground floor with customers at their sari-sari store when the blaze began.

According to Catbalogan police, the local Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) arrived promptly and declared the fire out around 8:47 a.m., estimating damages at around P100,000. Upon entering the scene, authorities discovered the lifeless body of alias Mario.

Investigators said that the fire appeared to have started from electrical wiring on the second floor. The wife of the victim told authorities that a passerby alerted them to the fire, but by the time they tried to rescue her bedridden partner, the flames had grown too intense, forcing them to remain in a safe area while waiting for BFP assistance.

Police coordinated with the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) for documentation and further investigation into the incident.

(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY — Government troops secured the surrender of four alleged New People’s Army (NPA) members in Barangay Siljagon, Mapanas, Northern Samar on January 20, which the military described as another setback for the communist insurgency in the province.

In a statement, the 8th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office identified the former rebels as alias Gabriel, Reden, Mati, and Boy, who were reportedly members of Squad 1 of the Sub-Regional Guerrilla Unit Laysan under the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee. One M16 rifle, assorted ammunition, and other war materiel were turned over by alias Gabriel.
The surrender was facilitated by the 78th Infantry Battalion of the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.

Lieutenant Colonel Francis Rosales, commanding officer of the 78th IB, said the decision of the four individuals to abandon the armed struggle underscores the impact of the government’s whole-of-nation approach against insurgency.

“Their choice to leave the armed movement shows that more individuals are realizing that violence and deception offer no future,” Rosales said, adding that former rebels are encouraged to take part in peace and development initiatives.

The 8th ID said the surrender reflects the declining support for the armed movement in Northern Samar, citing sustained security operations, localized peace engagements, community cooperation, and development programs.

The division again urged remaining NPA members to surrender, assuring government assistance to those who renounce violence and choose a lawful and productive life.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — More than 1,290 residents in three barangays of Calbiga town in Samar province are now benefiting from improved access to clean and safe drinking water following the completion of a major water system upgrade funded by the national government.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) recently turned over the upgraded Level II to Level III Water Supply System for Barangays Mahangcao, Borong, and Macaalan, an initiative aimed at improving public health, sanitation, and the delivery of basic services in rural communities.

The P13.33-million project was funded under the Local Government Support Fund–Support and Assistance Fund to Participatory Budgeting (LGSF-SAFPB). It involved the replacement and installation of 1,600 linear meters of pipelines, the construction of a water treatment facility and a management office, and the provision of 430 metered household water connections.

The turnover ceremony was led by DILG Region 8 Regional Director Arnel Agabe, together with Calbiga Mayor Red Nacario, and attended by agency and local government officials, as well as barangay leaders from the three beneficiary communities.

In his message, Agabe emphasized that the project goes beyond infrastructure development, describing it as an investment in public health and a concrete outcome of participatory budgeting and collaboration between the government and civil society organizations.

Mayor Nacario welcomed the project, noting that it addresses a long-standing concern of residents regarding access to potable water. He expressed optimism that similar initiatives would further improve living conditions in the municipality.

The mayor also thanked DILG Region 8 for its continued support in implementing priority projects in Calbiga.

The LGSF-SAFPB is part of the national government’s efforts to operationalize the localization strategies of the Philippine Open Government Partnership.

The program seeks to ensure universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water and sanitation, strengthen hygiene services, and help end open defecation by 2030.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY– The Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) of Eastern Visayas in October 2025 decreased to 59.4 percent, from 63.6 percent in October 2024. However, it is higher compared with the 58.1 percent labor force participation rate in July 2025.

The 59.4 percent LFPR placed the region’s labor force at 2.02 million persons who were either employed or unemployed out of the 3.40 million population 15 years old and over in October 2025.

In October 2024, the number of individuals aged 15 years old and over who were in the labor force was 2.13 million, while in July 2025, the number was 1.97 million individuals.
Among regions, BARMM registered the highest LFPR in October 2025 at 69.6 percent.

Eastern Visayas’ 59.4 percent LFPR was the lowest among regions, and one among eight (8) regions with LFPRs lower than the 63.6 percent national estimate.

The region’s employment rate in October 2025 dropped to 93.9 percent, from 96.9 percent in October 2024 and 94.7 percent in July 2025.

The 93.9 percent employment rate translates to 1.90 million employed persons out of the 2.02 million persons in the labor force of Eastern Visayas in October 2025.

The number of employed persons in October 2025 was lower than the 2.07 million employed persons in October 2024 but higher than the 1.87 million employed persons reported in July 2025.

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate of Eastern Visayas in October 2025 was 6.1 percent, higher than the 3.1 percent unemployment rate in October 2024 and 5.3 percent in July 2025.

The number of unemployed individuals in October 2025 was 124 thousand. This was higher than the 66 thousand unemployed individuals in October 2024 and also higher than the 105,000 unemployed individuals in July 2025.

Underemployed population is the proportion of employed population who expresses the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job, or an additional job or to have a new job with longer working hours. The underemployment rate of Eastern Visayas increased to 14.0 percent in October 2025, from 12.6 percent in October 2024.

However, it was lower than the 17.7 percent underemployment rate in July 2025. This means that out of the 1.90 million employed individuals in October 2025, there were 266,000 underemployed or persons who expressed the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job or to have an additional job, or to have a new job with longer hours of work. (PR)