TACLOBAN CITY — Farmers and fisherfolk in Eastern Samar received more than P15.2 million in agricultural assistance, including farm inputs, livestock supplies, livelihood projects and rice sold at a subsidized price, during a government service caravan held at the Capitol Gymnasium.

A total of P15,236,428 worth of interventions was distributed during the “Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat para sa Lahat” as part of the government’s nationwide effort to bring livelihood, agricultural and other public services closer to communities.

Assistant Secretary Rosalinda Bautista, who delivered the President’s message during the event, highlighted government programs providing health, employment and livelihood assistance directly to communities.

The Department of Agriculture (DA-8), represented by OIC-Regional Technical Director for Operations Francisco Rosaroso, led the turnover of the agricultural assistance with Eastern Samar Gov. Ralph Vincent Evardone.

The package included one rain shelter under the High Value Crops Development Program, two coconut nurseries under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan, and 11 Livelihood Opportunities and Viable Enterprise (LOVE) projects.

Also distributed were 23 sets of veterinary drugs, dewormers and biologics under the National Livestock Program, six sets of hybrid rice seeds and inorganic fertilizers for irrigated areas during the dry season, and 500 packets of vegetable seeds.

Four young agripreneurs were also recognized as awardees of the Youth Farmers Challenge, which supports young people engaged in agricultural enterprises.

Meanwhile, 10 local farmer groups joined the Kadiwa ng Pangulo market, allowing farmers to sell their produce directly to consumers.

Anita Dadulla, general manager of the Balangkayan Agriculture Cooperative, said the market provided farmer groups with an opportunity to find buyers while giving consumers access to fresh and affordable agricultural products.

“This is a huge help to our cooperative as well as to other farmers. They no longer struggle to sell their harvests, and at the same time, we are able to help consumers eat fresh and affordable products,” Dadulla said.

The DA also facilitated the issuance of the Authority to Withdraw rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) for the Benteng Bigas Meron Na program.

A total of 150 sacks of rice were released under the program at PHP20 per kilogram.
Charlita Pomentil, a 4Ps beneficiary from San Julian, said the subsidized rice helped her household manage its expenses.

“It is good that this is available because it is a big help, especially in budgeting. It allows us to reduce our expenses. I am thankful that I was able to avail of this opportunity,” Pomentil said.

For 65-year-old vegetable farmer Elias Veloso of Borongan City, the P20-per-kilogram rice also meant savings compared with prevailing market prices.

“We are thankful because this is a big help to us. We can save a lot by buying rice at P20 per kilogram compared with rice that costs P60 per kilogram,” Veloso said.

The agricultural assistance formed part of the services delivered during the Handog ng Pangulo event, which brought together government agencies to provide various programs and interventions to communities across Eastern Samar.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Leyte Rep. Ana Victoria Veloso-Tuazon said she is praying for fellow Leyte lawmaker and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez as he faces a P7.44-billion plunder case before the Sandiganbayan.

Veloso-Tuazon, who represents Leyte’s third congressional district, said she considers Romualdez a supportive colleague who has looked after the interests of Eastern Visayas lawmakers.

“I pray for him. I view him as very kind and always on the lookout for Eastern Visayas legislators,” Veloso-Tuazon said in an interview.

She said both she and Romualdez, being lawyers, understand the importance of following the law as he confronts the criminal case.

“We are lawyers; we understand what it is to be law-abiding citizens,” she said.
The Ombudsman filed the plunder case against Romualdez and three others on Sept. 7, accusing them of receiving commissions, shares, kickbacks and other financial benefits totaling at least P7.44 billion in connection with government projects implemented from 2022 to 2025.

Also charged were former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, Romualdez’s former personal aide Joselyn Tragua Sereño, and Felicito Cristobal Guevarra, president of Samchan Foreign Exchange Corp.

Prosecutors alleged that the money came from contractors and other entities involved in flood control, infrastructure and other government projects.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division later issued warrants of arrest against Romualdez and his co-accused after finding probable cause based on the prosecution’s records.
The court stressed that the issuance of arrest warrants does not establish guilt and that the accused remain presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Romualdez was initially arrested while confined at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City before being transferred to the Philippine General Hospital for an independent medical examination.

On Sept. 14, the Sandiganbayan ordered his transfer to the New Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Payatas after government doctors determined that he was stable and no longer needed acute-care hospital confinement.

Romualdez, a lawyer and incumbent representative of Leyte’s first congressional district, is a cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The Palace has said the administration respects the Ombudsman’s case and that anyone found accountable should face the consequences regardless of whether the person is a relative, friend, political ally or opponent.

Despite Romualdez’s legal troubles, Veloso-Tuazon said lawmakers continue to perform their legislative and constituency duties.

“We are still doing our work as legislators regardless of what is being said, and restore faith in the legislative system. Maybe the people understand that much has to be done and we rise to the occasion,” she said.

Recent OCTA Research findings showed that 38% of adult Filipinos expressed trust in the House of Representatives during the second quarter of 2026, up from 36% in the first quarter.

The same survey found that 64% of respondents said their own district representative was doing a good job representing their constituency, while 27% disagreed and 9% were undecided.

Romualdez’s congressional office in Tacloban City continues to operate and provide assistance to constituents of Leyte’s first district, which includes Tacloban City and seven municipalities.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Improved palay production and tighter rice importation have helped keep Eastern Visayas’ rice supply stable, even as the region continues to rely on outside sources to meet its total requirement, the Department of Agriculture said.

Rodel Macapanas, officer-in-charge regional technical director of the Department of Agriculture-Eastern Visayas (DA-8), said local palay production currently accounts for about 80 percent of the region’s rice requirement, making Eastern Visayas rice-secure although it remains below self-sufficiency.

Macapanas said Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed that the region’s rice production has generally declined since 2020.

The trend, however, showed signs of improvement this year, with palay production increasing by 3.4 percent in the second quarter of 2026. Macapanas attributed the improvement largely to increased local harvests.

He also said the outlook for the May and October cropping seasons remains favorable.
Macapanas clarified that being “rice-secure” is different from being “rice-sufficient.”
Eastern Visayas does not produce enough rice to meet its entire consumption requirement, but local production supplies a substantial portion of the demand, with the balance coming from outside the region, including imported rice.

Based on National Food Authority figures cited by Macapanas, the region requires about 500,000 bags of rice, with local production supplying roughly 80 percent of the requirement.

The agriculture official said local rice farmers also benefited from improved palay prices during the latest harvest following measures to regulate rice imports.

He recalled that farmgate prices of palay previously fell to nearly P12 per kilogram amid an oversupply of imported rice. Farmers were estimated to need about PHP14 per kilogram just to break even.

At one point, the region required only about 40,000 bags of imported rice, but around 80,000 bags were entering the market, nearly twice the requirement.

“With warehouses already filled with rice, buyers had little reason to purchase locally produced palay,” Macapanas said.

With imports becoming more limited, he said farmers were able to sell palay at better prices during the latest harvest.

About PHP21 to PHP23 per kilogram, while properly dried palay reached around PHP27 per kilogram, although prices varied across provinces.

Macapanas said Eastern Visayas continues to receive imported rice, but supplies have been limited, particularly with reduced availability from countries such as Myanmar and Thailand.
He also acknowledged that some consumers prefer imported rice but said locally produced rice can compete if farmers observe proper harvesting and post-harvest practices.

Proper harvesting, drying and handling, he said, can help preserve the quality of local rice and make it more competitive with imported varieties.

Macapanas stressed that maintaining a stable rice supply requires a balance between rice imports and support for local farmers, noting that excessive imports could depress palay prices and undermine the livelihood of rice producers.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

In Eastern Samar

TACLOBAN CITY — The municipality of San Julian in Eastern Samar is stepping up efforts to promote its local attractions, products and cultural heritage with the construction of a tourism hub that will also serve as a pasalubong and information center.

The municipal government broke ground for the Tourism Hub Pasalubong and Information Center on Sept. 14, following its flag-raising ceremony held in observance of National Tourism Month.

Municipal government employees, local officials and uniformed personnel attended the groundbreaking ceremony.

The facility was designed by architects Ma. Rochelle Aclao and Bal Marvic Calinaya of the Municipal Engineering Office.

Once completed, the tourism hub will provide a designated and accessible venue where visitors and residents can obtain information about San Julian’s destinations, local products, culture and other attractions.

Joel Oriondo, Tourism Operations Officer, said the project marks a milestone in the municipality’s tourism and cultural development plans.

He said the facility is expected to showcase San Julian’s culture, traditions, arts and local identity while providing tourism-related information to visitors and residents.

Mayor Dorie Jorgie Estaron said the project goes beyond the construction of a physical facility, describing it as an expression of the municipal government’s support for tourism development.

She said tourism could serve as an economic driver by creating opportunities for local businesses, artists, cultural workers and other sectors of the community.

Estaron also stressed the importance of providing information to help introduce San Julian to visitors and residents.

The planned hub is expected to feature information about the municipality’s identity and profile, government services, tourist destinations, local products, cultural resources and areas with potential for further development.

The municipal government said the project is part of its continuing efforts to develop San Julian’s tourism industry while preserving and promoting its local culture and arts.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)