CATARMAN, Northern Samar (PIA) — A two-day soft opening of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) operations in Northern Samar served nearly a thousand clients from municipalities across the province on January 21-22, 2026.

The PRC operations are part of a centralized government service center launched in October 2025, bringing national services closer to residents. The facility includes four agencies: the Professional Regulation Commission, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Commission on Higher Education.

The center was initiated by the former First District Representative Paul Daza, in partnership with the Provincial Government of Northern Samar through the Northern Samar PESO, the Local Government Unit of Catarman, and the University of Eastern Philippines, which built the facility.

Once fully operational, the center aims to meet the long-standing demand among Northern Samar residents for easier access to government-issued documents required for employment, licensure, and other official transactions, reducing the need to travel to other cities outside the province.

PRC Chief Administrative Officer Dioscoro Lumagbas said that the soft opening marks the start of PRC operations in Northern Samar. He clarified that services are limited to two days this week as the office completes facility, system, staffing, and setup requirements for full operations.

He assured the public that once operational requirements are met, the PRC will provide regular services to Nortehanons in accordance with standard schedules.

Lumagbas added that regular operations will eventually include professional licensure examinations, registration, renewal, certification, and related services for professionals and aspiring professionals in the province.

Client Charelle Catunhay said she is grateful for the establishment of the PRC in the province, which is a huge relief from the burden of traveling to Calbayog, Catbalogan, or Tacloban, on top of out-of-pocket expenses.

“The transaction is smooth and fast so long as you follow the scheduled appointment,” she further said.

(AND, PIA Northern Samar)

TACLOBAN CITY — In a move to bring government assistance closer to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families, the Department of Migrant Worker (DMW-8) has entered into a partnership with the local government unit of Villaba, Leyte to strengthen the delivery of migrant worker services at the municipal level.

The memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed by DMW-8 officer-in-charge Marlon Macalla and Villaba Mayor Carlos Veloso, formalizing cooperation aimed at improving coordination of programs for migrant workers and their dependents.

Under the MOA, DMW RO8 and the Villaba municipal government will work together to deliver a range of services for OFWs, including welfare and protection assistance, employment facilitation, referral mechanisms, and reintegration support for returning migrant workers.

Mayor Veloso said the agreement reflects the municipality’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare of Villaba’s OFWs by strengthening local support systems and ensuring timely access to government assistance.

Macalla, for his part, emphasized the importance of partnerships with local government units in decentralizing migrant worker services, noting that bringing services closer to communities makes government assistance more accessible and responsive to the needs of OFWs and their families.

“This collaboration helps ensure that OFWs and their families can easily access services without having to travel far, especially during times of need,” Macalla said.

The signing was witnessed by Vice Mayor Edgar Veloso, members of the Sangguniang Bayan led by OFW and Employment Committee chairperson Jamel O. Gonzales, and representatives from DMW RO8.

DMW said the agreement marks a significant step in its efforts to institutionalize migrant worker services at the local level and expand its service network across Eastern Visayas through sustained collaboration with local government units.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Amid growing financial pressures on dioceses nationwide, Borongan Bishop Crispin Varquez has called on his fellow prelates to embrace simplicity, frugality, and deeper solidarity in Church gatherings, particularly during plenary assemblies of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

Varquez made the appeal in a privilege speech during the 131st CBCP Plenary Assembly on Sunday, January 25, urging bishops to ensure that Church activities remain consistent with their pastoral vocation and sensitive to the realities faced by local churches.

He specifically appealed for restraint in CBCP plenary assemblies hosted by dioceses, warning that while the generosity and hospitality of host dioceses are deeply appreciated, they should not be pushed beyond what is reasonable.

“Accepting lavish hospitality can unintentionally place financial strain on host dioceses and may cause misunderstanding or even scandal among the faithful,” Varquez said, stressing that bishops are called to be witnesses of moderation and stewardship.

The Borongan prelate said that practicing simplicity would make it easier for poorer and smaller dioceses to host future CBCP gatherings without feeling pressured to overspend, thereby promoting wider participation across the Church.

Beyond plenary assemblies, Varquez also called for simpler and more affordable conventions organized by CBCP episcopal commissions. He said Church meetings should prioritize formation, dialogue, and mission rather than costly arrangements, allowing bishops and Church workers from resource-limited dioceses to participate meaningfully.

Addressing concerns about unity within the hierarchy, Varquez rejected claims that brotherhood among bishops is weakening, saying genuine solidarity remains strong among those who actively nurture it. He emphasized that no bishop—whether active or retired—should ever be viewed as a burden, as all share the same vocation and responsibility to serve the People of God.

“Our journey of synodality calls us to walk together and help one another with humility and generosity,” he said.

In the same address, Varquez appealed to dioceses to offer modest and capacity-based financial contributions to help sustain the operations and mission of the CBCP. While acknowledging the financial and pastoral challenges confronting many dioceses, he said even small contributions would be a concrete sign of shared responsibility.

He renewed his proposal for each ecclesiastical territory to consider contributing a small percentage of its available resources to a common fund dedicated to supporting the Conference’s programs and administrative needs.

Varquez concluded by urging his fellow bishops to respond with unity and trust, expressing confidence that acts of generosity—no matter how modest—would strengthen the Church’s mission and be returned manifold in blessings as they continue to serve both the Church and the nation.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8), led by Regional Director B/Gen. Jason Capoy, commemorated the 11th anniversary of the heroism of the Special Action Force (SAF) 44 with the theme, “In Valor, We Remember: A Pledge for Future Generations,” at the PRO-8 Heroes’ Monument in Camp Kangleon, Palo, Leyte, on Sunday, January 25, 2026.

The annual event, held every January 25, featured a wreath-laying ceremony to honor the bravery and sacrifice of the SAF 44, who gave their lives in the line of duty.

Eleven years ago, these 44 elite police officers fell during “Oplan Exodus,” an operation in Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao, aimed at apprehending two high-value targets.
Among the fallen heroes, six hailed from Eastern Visayas: PO3 John Lloyd R. Sumbilla of Sulat, Eastern Samar; PO2 Rodel E. Ramacula of Rosario, Northern Samar; PO2 Glenn B. Bedua of Dulag, Leyte; PO2 Noel N. Balaca Jr. of Oras, Eastern Samar; PO1 Joseph G. Sagonoy of Silvino Lubos, Northern Samar; and PO1 Mark Lory O. Clemencio of Carigara, Leyte. Their sacrifice left a lasting mark on the region, where they continue to be remembered as exemplars of courage and honor.

Capoy paid tribute to the fallen, noting that their heroism serves as a powerful reminder of the responsibilities carried by law enforcement officers.

He said that every day police personnel don the uniform, they are called to embody the courage, dedication, and selflessness demonstrated by the SAF 44—true heroism measured not by recognition but by the willingness to give everything for the greater good.

“The legacy of the Fallen 44 lives on in the hearts of PRO-8 personnel and the entire Philippine National Police,” Capoy added, “serving as a source of strength and inspiration in fulfilling our sacred duty to serve and protect.”

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY — More than 1,100 workers in Eastern Visayas received monetary relief in 2025 after the regional office of the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office (DOLE-8) facilitated the settlement of P18.9 million in labor-related claims through its Single Entry Approach (SEnA) Program.

DOLE-8 said the program benefited 1,122 workers and posted an 88.44 percent settlement rate, exceeding the national benchmark of at least 75 percent of resolved requests for assistance (RFAs).

Lawyer Dax Villaruel, DOLE regional director, said the results demonstrate the value of early, non-adversarial interventions in resolving workplace issues.

“By providing an accessible and non-adversarial mechanism, we are able to protect workers’ rights while promoting industrial peace,” he said in a statement.

Villaruel added that the timely settlement of monetary claims helped provide relief and a sense of justice to more than a thousand workers and their families across the region.
The SEnA program is designed to offer a speedy, cost-free, and accessible avenue for workers and employers to resolve labor concerns through conciliation and mediation, without the need for prolonged and costly court proceedings, DOLE said.

Based on a consolidated report submitted to the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB), the regional office handled 934 RFAs last year, of which 826 cases were successfully settled through conciliation and mediation.

The remaining cases were either withdrawn or referred to the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) and other appropriate government agencies, while eight cases are scheduled for mandatory conferences.

Villaruel said 99 percent of all RFAs were disposed of, underscoring the effectiveness of the SEnA mechanism in addressing labor disputes at the earliest possible stage and preventing escalation into formal litigation.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)