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Mayor Merilo shifts focus to tourism as she wins 2nd term

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TOURISM. Reelected Tanauan, Leyte Mayor Gina Merilo will give focus in promoting tourism in her town as an additional economic driver. (PHOTO COURTESY)
TOURISM. Reelected Tanauan, Leyte Mayor Gina Merilo will give focus in promoting tourism in her town as an additional economic driver.
(PHOTO COURTESY)

TANAUAN, Leyte– With a renewed mandate and a successful first term centered on livelihood and community development, Tanauan Mayor Gina Merillo is setting her sights on tourism as a key driver of local progress in her second term.

Mayor Merillo aims to position Tanauan as a tourism destination in Leyte, capitalizing on the town’s natural assets, including its scenic coastline and proximity to some of the province’s most beautiful beaches.

A key part of this push is the revival of Tanauan’s signature skimboarding competitions, which were put on hold due to the tide embankment project.

Known as the “Skimboarding Capital of the Philippines,” Tanauan once drew crowds of athletes and spectators for these events, and Merillo believes their return will help reignite tourism and boost the local economy.

Grateful for the continued trust of her constituents, Merillo reaffirmed her commitment to accessible and hands-on governance. She begins her days early and visits barangays even after office hours to stay in touch with the needs of her community.

With a clear vision and grassroots leadership, Mayor Merillo hopes to transform Tanauan into one of Leyte’s most vibrant tourism hubs.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

Eastern Visayas launches Jubilee Year Pilgrimage tours for 2025

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TACLOBAN CITY – In a historic collaboration between the Department of Tourism Region (DOT-8), the Association of Leyte Tour Operators (ALTO), and the six dioceses of Eastern Visayas, the 2025 Ordinary Jubilee Year Pilgrimage Tours were officially launched on Saturday at the Pastoral Hall of the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Sto. Niño.

Anchored on the Vatican-declared theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” the launch marks the beginning of a faith-driven journey that blends spiritual renewal with cultural exploration across the region.

DOT Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes said the Jubilee pilgrimage tours offer more than just travel — they are sacred experiences designed to deepen faith through prayer, reflection, and discovery.

“We are not just organizing itineraries. We are building a legacy of faith tourism in Eastern Visayas — one that we hope will last even beyond the Jubilee Year,” Tiopes said, emphasizing that pilgrimage tours are a vital program to boost tourism and spiritual engagement in the region.

She also confirmed that the tours are sanctioned by the Archdiocese of Palo and meet all the requirements for official pilgrimages.

Msgr. Gilbert Urbina, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Palo, highlighted the importance of pilgrimages in strengthening unity within the Church.

Meanwhile, Fr. Chris Arthur Militante, director of the commission on social communications and mass media, provided a background on the spiritual significance of the Jubilee Year and introduced the Archdiocesan Pilgrimage Passport, which will guide pilgrims as they journey through designated holy sites.

Under the Archdiocese of Palo, seven pilgrimage churches have been identified: Archdiocesan Shrine of Sto. Niño, Tacloban City; Palo Metropolitan Cathedral, Palo; Sacred Heart Seminary Chapel, Palo; St. Francis Xavier Parish Church, Abuyog; Immaculate Conception Parish Church, Burauen; Sts. Peter and Paul Parish Church, Ormoc City; St. Francis Xavier Parish Church, Palompon; and Holy Cross Parish Church, Carigara.

Also part of the pilgrimage churches are the Diocese of Maasin (Southern Leyte); Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Assumption (Maasin Cathedral); Sto. Niño Church, Malitbog; Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Hilongos; St. Joseph Parish Church, Matalom; 16th-century St. Isidore the Laborer Chapel, Baybay; Diocesan Shrine of St. Anthony de Padua, Baybay; Immaculate Conception Church, Baybay; Shrine of the Holy Cross and First Easter Mass, Limasawa.

In the diocese of Naval, Biliran, Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary, Naval; Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Calubian; and St. James the Apostle Church, Caibiran while in the diocese of Catarman, Northern Samar: Our Lady of the Annunciation Cathedral, Catarman; Diocesan Shrine of Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, Catarman; St. Michael the Archangel Church, Laoang; St. James the Greater Parish, Allen; Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Palapag; St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish, Capul; St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Catubig; Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Bobon; and St. John the Baptist Parish, Pambujan.

In the diocese of Borongan (Eastern Samar): Nativity of Our Lady Cathedral, Borongan City; St. Joachim the Patriarch Parish, Dolores; Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Guiuan; and St. Anthony de Padua Parish, Guiuan.

And in the diocese of Calbayog (Samar):Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Calbayog City; St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church, Catbalogan City; Our Lady of the Annunciation Church, Paranas; and the St. Michael the Archangel Church, Basey.

The DOT and the Church hope that the Jubilee pilgrimage experience will inspire the faithful to reflect on their spiritual journey while appreciating the rich Catholic heritage of the region.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

Delivery rider nabbed in Tacloban buy-bust, P3.7-M worth of suspected shabu seized

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ORMOC CITY – Authorities recovered an estimated 556 grams of suspected shabu valued at P3.77 million during a buy-bust operation conducted by the Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) of Police Station 2, Tacloban City Police Office, in the early hours of Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Barangay 91, Abucay, Tacloban City.

The suspect, identified only by the alias “Amir”, 28, single, and a delivery rider residing in Barangay 59-A Sampaguita, was arrested after selling illegal drugs to an undercover operative for P30,000.

During the body search, conducted in the presence of law-mandated witnesses, operatives recovered three medium-sized sachets of suspected shabu sold during the operation; five knot-tied plastic bags and eight medium-sized sachets containing suspected shabu; and P30,000 in marked and boodle money, including two genuine P500 bills—one bearing the serial number CE1825150, which was pre-marked for the operation.

Police said the suspect was informed of the nature of his arrest and was apprised of his constitutional rights in a language he understood.

Authorities filed charges of selling and possession of dangerous drugs under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (Republic Act 9165).

The suspect is currently detained at the custodial facility of Police Station 2 in Barangay Abucay, Tacloban City.

(ROBERT DEJON)

Carpenter nabbed in Ormoc buy-bust; yields suspected shabu

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ORMOC CITY – A 38-year-old carpenter was arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted by the Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) of Police Station 6 of the Ormoc City Police Office (OCPO) on Friday afternoon, May 9, in Brgy. Boroc.

Police identified the suspect as alias “Naldo,” a resident of Brgy. Bantigue, married, and classified as a street-level individual on the station’s drug watchlist.

According to Police Captain Jefferson Barrios, chief of Police Station 6, the operation resulted in the recovery of three sachets containing white crystalline substances suspected to be shabu.

One sachet weighing 0.16 grams was purchased by an undercover operative for P500, while two additional sachets weighing 1.79 grams were recovered during a body search witnessed by barangay officials and members of the media.

In a brief interview, the suspect admitted to both using and selling illegal drugs, citing low income from his carpentry work as the reason he became involved in the trade. He also acknowledged ownership of the confiscated items.

The suspect was informed of the nature of his arrest and apprised of his constitutional rights in a language he understood.

Charges for violations of Sections 5 (sale of illegal drugs) and 11 (possession of illegal drugs) under Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 have been filed before the Ormoc City Prosecutor’s Office.

The suspect is currently detained at the Police Station 6 detention facility in Brgy. Ipil.
(ROBERT DEJON)

EV placed under blue alert due to San Juanico Bridge restrictions

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TACLOBAN CITY – The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) has placed the entire Eastern Visayas region under “blue alert” following the implementation of vehicle restrictions at the San Juanico Bridge, a key link between the islands of Leyte and Samar.

The decision was made during an emergency meeting held on Friday, May 16, as the RDRRMC intensified its coordinated response to the situation.

“Technically, the alert level was raised for the entire region, but it specifically supports the situation at the San Juanico Bridge. This enables us to mobilize additional resources and ensure our response is appropriate for the severity of the issue,” said Office of Civil Defense (OCD-8) Regional Director and RDRRMC chairperson Lord Byron Torrecarion.

Torrecarion explained that placing the region under blue alert allows the use of the quick response fund (QRF) to cover fuel costs, deploy teams, and provide assistance to affected individuals.

“This also provides legal grounding for releasing aid, protecting us from potential disallowances by the Commission on Audit (COA). The alert status becomes our basis,” he added.

Torrecarion said they could not yet determine how long the blue alert status would remain in place.

The situation stems from a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) memorandum issued on May 8, 2025, implementing a temporary axle load limit of three tons for all vehicles crossing the San Juanico Bridge. The restriction aims to prevent further structural deterioration and protect commuters and local communities.

In response, the RDRRMC issued Memorandum No. 05-005, series of 2025, directing all stakeholders to strictly enforce the limitations and coordinate closely with local government units (LGUs) to maintain order and public support.

A follow-up directive—Memorandum No. 05-006, series of 2025—was sent to all Provincial, City, and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (LDRRMCs) in Southern Leyte, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Ormoc City, and Tacloban City. It outlined additional safety measures, including the requirement for all vehicles not exceeding three metric tons to cross only along the centerline of the bridge, and one at a time, under close supervision of on-site traffic management personnel.

Heavy vehicles, such as cargo trucks and buses, are temporarily banned from using the bridge until further notice to minimize structural stress and allow for urgent repair and maintenance works.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

Samar to declare state of emergency amid San Juanico Bridge restrictions

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STATE OF EMERGENCY. The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, chaired by Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan, has recommended on Saturday, May 17 to place Samar under state of emergency following the restriction imposed at the San Juanico Bridge as the province is seen to be affected with the situation. (SAMAR PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)
STATE OF EMERGENCY. The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, chaired by Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan, has recommended on Saturday, May 17 to place Samar under state of emergency following the restriction imposed at the San Juanico Bridge as the province is seen to be affected with the situation. (SAMAR PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

TACLOBAN CITY – The province of Samar is to be placed under a state of emergency following the imposition of strict load limitations on the iconic San Juanico Bridge, a key infrastructure linking the islands of Samar and Leyte.

The recommendation to declare the emergency was approved by the Samar Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) in a meeting presided over by Governor Sharee Ann Tan on May 17. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan is expected to act swiftly on the recommendation to formalize the declaration.

This decision comes after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) imposed a 3-ton weight limit on vehicles crossing the San Juanico Bridge due to safety concerns.
“We are taking every step possible to protect the safety of our people while ensuring the continued flow of goods and services across the region,” Governor Tan said, citing the reason for the declaration.

Structural assessments indicated deterioration in certain bridge components, prompting authorities to restrict access to light vehicles only. The restriction effectively halts the passage of cargo trucks, buses, and other heavy vehicles, disrupting the flow of essential goods and public transportation.

The bridge, inaugurated in 1973, is a 2.16-kilometer steel structure and is one of the longest bridges in the Philippines spanning a body of seawater. It is a critical economic lifeline in Eastern Visayas, facilitating trade, supply chain operations, and commuter travel between Tacloban City in Leyte and Santa Rita in Samar.

In response to the transportation bottleneck, the PDRRMC also passed a resolution requesting the deployment of a Philippine Navy vessel to ferry essential supplies—including food, fuel, and medical goods—from Tacloban to Samar, particularly Catbalogan and other interior municipalities now facing supply chain disruptions.

To further ease the burden on land transport, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has identified several alternative seaports for cargo diversion.

These include Tacloban, Palompon, Calubian, Hilongos, Biliran, and Maasin ports on the Leyte side, and Calbayog, Catbalogan, and Maguino-o ports on the Samar side. Cargo vessel operators such as ALD Sea Transport and SEEN SAM Shipping have begun operating temporary sea routes to bridge the logistical gap caused by the restrictions.

Local governments are also collaborating with the private sector to establish temporary truck stops and staging areas in Ormoc and other key points in the region to manage the overflow of stranded cargo vehicles.

Officials urge the public and businesses to remain calm and cooperate with the contingency measures while the DPWH conducts further inspection and plans for either temporary reinforcement or long-term structural rehabilitation of the San Juanico Bridge.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

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