CATARMAN, Northern Samar — Nearly 900 teachers from schools across Northern Samar were honored during the province’s National Teachers’ Day celebration, with Department of Education Eastern Visayas Regional Director Salustiano Jimenez using the occasion to reaffirm the agency’s commitment to teachers’ welfare and provide educators with an opportunity to directly raise their concerns.

The Oct. 2 celebration, dubbed “SALUDO!! A Musical Tribute to the Teachers Who Make Us,” was held at the Sison Ground Bulwagan ng mga Guro in Catarman and brought together selected teachers, particularly those serving in far-flung schools across the province.
Jimenez served as keynote speaker, paying tribute to teachers for their dedication, sacrifices and commitment to shaping the lives of learners.

He emphasized the important role of educators in building a better, brighter and more inclusive future for every learner, while assuring teachers and school leaders of the Department of Education’s continued support for their welfare and professional development.

Jimenez said the commitment is anchored on the “GREAT SMILE” framework, or “Serbisyong Mabilis Ialay Lagi sa Edukasyon,” which seeks to provide swift and responsive service to the education sector.

During the celebration, teachers received cash and various items from the Schools Division of Northern Samar and its stakeholders as tokens of appreciation for their service and dedication.

The event was also highlighted by performances and tributes from the division’s non-teaching personnel, who organized the musical celebration in honor of educators.
Rather than ending his engagement with teachers after the divisional celebration, Jimenez continued his visit to Northern Samar the following day, attending activities in the San Roque District and Victoria.

He held face-to-face dialogues with teachers during the visits, allowing educators to directly present their concerns, challenges and other issues affecting their work.
The dialogues provided teachers an opportunity to communicate directly with the regional director and seek immediate attention to matters that may require action from the regional office.

The Schools Division of Northern Samar said the activities underscored the importance of recognizing teachers not only through celebrations but also by listening to their concerns and responding to their needs.

The National Teachers’ Day celebration formed part of DepEd’s continuing efforts to recognize the vital contribution of teachers to the education system and to the development of Filipino learners.

(EUGENE M. ENANO)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Rotary Club of Tacloban convened its regular luncheon meeting on October 1, 2026, with guest speaker Henry Gosyco, President of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tacloban‑Leyte, Inc. (PCCI‑TLI).

Gosyco rallied members—many of whom are active PCCI‑TLI constituents—to support the October Business Month celebration, set for October 6–9 at The Leyte Convention Center in Palo, Leyte, and emphasized the importance of the 52nd Philippine Business Conference and Expo on October 12–14 at the Manila Hotel.

Beyond economic initiatives, Gosyco appealed for community aid through a transparent bag donation drive for public high school students. The Rotary Club of Tacloban quickly pledged 300 bags, reinforcing its commitment to student safety and education.

The club’s youth arms—the Rotaract Club of Tacloban and Rotaractors from Southern Leyte State University—will also volunteer during the Palo festivities, particularly on October 8’s Job Fair, furthering Rotary’s partnership with PCCI in advancing shared goals of commerce and community upliftment. This engagement reflects Rotary’s historic role in civic‑led recovery.

During the Liberation of Leyte in World War II, President Sergio Osmeña and his cabinet, who stayed at the residences of Tacloban’s civic leaders (later founders of the Rotary Club), called upon Leyteños to help rebuild the nation and address unemployment. Eight decades later, the club continues to honor that legacy, empowering business and building resilient communities. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC) here has restored its capacity to produce medical oxygen on-site, more than a decade after its previous oxygen-generating facility was destroyed by Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ in 2013.

The regional hospital received a new Oxygen Generating Plant (OGP) through additional support from The Global Fund’s COVID-19 Response Mechanism, strengthening its capacity to maintain a reliable supply of medical oxygen.

The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), through its ACCESS TB Project, formally turned over the facility to EVMC during a ceremony held at the hospital’s Bagacay Administrative Building on Sept.25.

Since the destruction of its previous facility, EVMC had relied on external suppliers to meet its medical oxygen requirements.

The new OGP can refill approximately 300 oxygen cylinders daily, providing the hospital with a more sustainable oxygen supply while improving operational efficiency and preparedness for future public health emergencies.

Representatives from PBSP, the Department of Health-Eastern Visayas Center for Health Development and EVMC attended the turnover ceremony, highlighting the importance of partnerships in strengthening healthcare services in the region.

Following the turnover, PBSP through the ACCESS TB Project conducted a three-day training program for EVMC personnel to support the safe and sustainable operation of the new facility.

The training involved 35 engineering, technical and administrative personnel who participated in technical discussions, equipment demonstrations and hands-on exercises covering the operation and maintenance of the OGP.

According to PBSP, the participants were trained on the plant’s major components and functions, standard operating procedures, preventive maintenance, operational protocols and basic troubleshooting.

The training is expected to equip EVMC personnel with the skills needed to safely operate, monitor, maintain and troubleshoot the facility and ensure continuous medical oxygen production.

The new oxygen-generating facility is expected to strengthen EVMC’s readiness to respond to patients’ oxygen requirements and future public health emergencies while reducing its dependence on external oxygen suppliers.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)