TACLOBAN CITY – Local officials in two remote Samar Island municipalities expressed gratitude for being included in the latest deployment under the Department of Health’s (DOH) Doctors to the Barrio (DTTB) Program, which aims to address the persistent shortage of medical professionals in underserved communities.

At least 14 newly deployed DTTB physicians have been assigned across Eastern Visayas, including the towns of Liloan and Anahawan in Southern Leyte; Palompon, Palo, Calubian, Mahaplag, Burauen, Bato, and Babatngon in Leyte; Naval in Biliran; Motiong and Matuguinao in Samar; Arteche in Eastern Samar; and Silvino Lobos in Northern Samar.
Some of these areas, such as Matuguinao and Arteche, have been without municipal health officers (MHOs) due to the lack of applicants or recent retirements.

Matuguinao Mayor Aran Boller welcomed the deployment of a new doctor to his town, which is categorized as a Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Area (GIDA). The municipality, with a population of just over 6,300, has long struggled with limited access to healthcare.

“We are deeply grateful to the national government, especially the DOH, for addressing the healthcare needs of Matuguinao. Being a GIDA and conflict-affected area, the presence of a doctor is crucial,” Boller said in a phone interview.

This is the third time a DTTB physician has been assigned to Matuguinao since Boller became mayor. He emphasized the importance of community visits, which the assigned doctor conducts alongside nurses and midwives to reach remote barangays.

The local government also ensures the safety of health personnel, especially in areas previously influenced by insurgent groups, and provides allowances and other support as part of their local counterpart to the program.

In Arteche, Eastern Samar, Vice Mayor Roland Boie Evardone also expressed appreciation for the DOH’s timely response to their request for a doctor. The town lost its previous MHO in March 2024 due to retirement and has since struggled to fill the post.
Although Arteche is located along the national highway, it still has six barangays classified as GIDA.

“This deployment is a big help to our people, especially in delivering vital health services to the Artechehanons,” Evardone said, adding that he initially filed the request for a DTTB physician while still serving as mayor.

For 2025, a total of 74 DTTB doctors have been assigned to different municipalities in Eastern Visayas to augment the delivery of primary healthcare, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

The Doctors to the Barrio Program, launched in 1993, continues to serve as a lifeline for many isolated towns that otherwise have little or no access to licensed physicians.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – Health authorities have issued a precautionary red tide warning in parts of Eastern Samar and Samar provinces after shellfish samples tested positive for toxic red tide organisms, according to a July 14 advisory from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

Confirmatory tests conducted by the BFAR-National Fisheries Laboratory Division revealed that shellfish meat samples collected from Matarinao Bay—which spans the municipalities of General MacArthur, Quinapondan, Hernani, and Salcedo in Eastern Samar—were found positive for paralytic shellfish toxin (saxitoxin).

Likewise, filtered seawater samples from Irong-Irong Bay in Catbalogan City, Samar also tested positive for Pyrodinium bahamense, a species of toxic dinoflagellate that causes red tide and produces the same harmful saxitoxin.

As a precautionary measure, BFAR has advised the public to refrain from gathering, selling, or consuming all types of shellfish and “Alamang” or “Hipon” (small shrimp, Acetes sp.) from the affected bays to avoid possible cases of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP). PSP can cause severe symptoms including numbness, dizziness, and in extreme cases, respiratory paralysis.

While the national shellfish bulletin is still pending issuance, the early advisory was released to safeguard lives and allow local government units (LGUs) to act swiftly.
BFAR emphasized, however, that fish, squid, crabs, and shrimp from these waters remain safe to eat provided they are fresh, thoroughly cleaned, and entrails removed before cooking.

The fisheries bureau has intensified monitoring of the affected bays and urged LGUs to take the necessary steps to inform and protect their constituents. The advisory also reminded local officials of their obligation under Section 16 of Republic Act 7160 (Local Government Code of 1991) to uphold the health and safety of residents.

Red tide outbreaks are naturally occurring phenomena caused by harmful algal blooms, which tend to intensify due to favorable weather and water conditions. In the Philippines, they have become recurring threats to coastal communities whose livelihoods depend heavily on shellfish harvesting.

BFAR said it will continue to conduct regular sampling and will issue updates as new test results become available.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

CATARMAN, Northern Samar – Retail giant Puregold is set to open its first-ever branch in Northern Samar, with a stand-alone supermarket currently under construction in Sitio Macopa, Barangay Macagtas, Catarman. The store is expected to open to the public by January or February 2026.

Representatives from Puregold recently paid a courtesy visit to Catarman Mayor Dianne Rosales to provide an update on the ongoing project. Mayor Rosales welcomed the company’s entry into the local market, citing its potential to create jobs, offer more affordable goods, and expand consumer choices in the province.

During the meeting, the mayor emphasized the importance of prioritizing Catarman residents in the hiring process—a request that Puregold management affirmed. Following the courtesy call, the team also visited the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Catarman to coordinate their recruitment activities, which are set to begin this August.

Once operational, the store will offer a wide range of products including groceries, household necessities, personal care items, frozen and ready-to-eat meals, appliances, and clothing.

The opening of Puregold marks a significant milestone in the retail landscape of Northern Samar, signaling growing investor confidence and providing new opportunities for local communities.

(RACHEL V. ARNAIZ)