TACLOBAN CITY — All 43 examinees from Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) in Borongan City passed the April 2026 Midwives Licensure Examination, making it the top-performing school nationwide.
Eastern Samar Lone District Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales lauded the graduates for achieving a 100 percent passing rate, calling it a testament to their dedication and commitment to the profession.
He also commended graduate Graceil Rado Dacuno for placing 10th in the exam with a 92.2 percent rating.
Data from the Professional Regulation Commission showed that 901 out of 2,124 examinees passed the exam nationwide, or a 42.4 percent passing rate.
Among schools with at least 30 examinees, ESSU ranked first, followed by the University of the Philippines School of Health Sciences and Tagoloan Community College in Misamis Oriental.
Gonzales emphasized the crucial role of midwives in delivering maternal and child healthcare, particularly in underserved communities.
TACLOBAN CITY— A minor killed in an armed encounter in Samar was laid to rest on Saturday, April 25, as his grieving mother called for justice and condemned the group she said recruited and abandoned her child.
The victim, identified as alias John Paul, died during a clash on April 17, 2026. His burial was facilitated through the assistance of the local government of San Jose de Buan.
His mother, Jessa, expressed gratitude to the local government for helping provide her son a proper burial, but also voiced anger toward the armed group she blamed for his death.
“An akon gad la ginsasakitan han buot kay ngano ira la ginbabyaanan, waray la nira atamana. Ira gin-inupod mahingada [engkwentro] pero waray nira atamana, ginpahamak la nira,” she said, questioning why her son was left behind during the encounter.
She urged members of the group to surrender to avoid suffering the same fate, and made an emotional appeal to a relative still involved in the movement to return home.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns over the recruitment of minors into armed group, a violation of national and international laws protecting children in conflict.
The Philippine Army 8th Infantry Division condemned the continued involvement of minors in armed struggle and reiterated its commitment to programs focused on community awareness and youth protection.
Authorities also urged families and communities to remain vigilant and report any attempts to recruit children into armed groups.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA, ROEL T. AMAZONA, ROBERT DEJON)
MODEST GROWTH.The Eastern Visayas economy records a modest 1.0 percent growth in 2025, down from 6.1 percent in the previous year with the load restrictions at the San Juanico Bridge among the factors as it disrupted the movement of goods and slowed trade and logistics across the region, according to government data.(TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)
Due to bridge restrictions and flood control mess
MODEST GROWTH.The Eastern Visayas economy records a modest 1.0 percent growth in 2025, down from 6.1 percent in the previous year with the load restrictions at the San Juanico Bridge among the factors as it disrupted the movement of goods and slowed trade and logistics across the region, according to government data.(TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)
TACLOBAN CITY — Eastern Visayas’ economy expanded by just 1.0 percent in 2025, a sharp slowdown from the 6.1 percent growth recorded in 2024, as mobility restrictions at the San Juanico Bridge and setbacks in public construction dampened economic activity, regional officials said.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the region’s economy reached P560.71 billion in 2025, slightly higher than P555.23 billion in 2024, but reflecting a significant deceleration in growth.
Meylene Rosales, regional director of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, said the region’s performance mirrored a broader national trend of slower growth.
“While our growth decelerated compared to 2024, we still consider this positive. And for any consolations, almost all regions experienced similar slowdowns, except for Western Visayas and BARMM,” Rosales said in a media interview on Thursday, April 23.
Rosales cited several factors that weighed on the region’s economic performance, foremost of which was the restricted use of the San Juanico Bridge—Eastern Visayas’ main land link to the rest of the country.
The Department of Public Works and Highways imposed a strict weight limit on the bridge in 2025 due to structural concerns, initially allowing only light vehicles before gradually increasing the limit to heavier loads under controlled conditions.
The restrictions disrupted the movement of goods and people, significantly affecting logistics, trade, and supply chains across the six-province region of over 4.6 million people.
Another contributing factor was the slowdown in public construction, partly linked to issues surrounding flood control projects. However, Rosales clarified that there has been no confirmed evidence of “ghost” flood control projects in the region, noting that details on the number of affected government-funded projects remain unavailable.
A series of typhoons and climate-related disruptions further dragged down growth, particularly in agriculture—one of the region’s key economic drivers.
“These weather disturbances significantly affected agriculture and other weather-dependent sectors,” Rosales said.
PSA data indicated contractions in manufacturing, construction, and agriculture, forestry, and fishing, underscoring the broad impact of these challenges.
Despite the slowdown, economic managers remain cautiously optimistic, citing the region’s continued expansion and the gradual easing of logistical constraints as potential drivers of recovery moving forward though the current fuel crisis may just yet affect the forecast.
STILL IN PH. Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez remains in the Philippines and continues to manage his congressional duties, an aide said, dismissing rumors that he has gone into hiding amid an ongoing probe by the Office of the Ombudsman over his alleged involvement in flood control mess.
(MARTIN ROMUALDEZ FACEBOOK)
STILL IN PH. Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez remains in the Philippines and continues to manage his congressional duties, an aide said, dismissing rumors that he has gone into hiding amid an ongoing probe by the Office of the Ombudsman over his alleged involvement in flood control mess. (MARTIN ROMUALDEZ FACEBOOK)
TACLOBAN CITY — Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez remains in the country and continues to oversee his congressional duties despite mounting speculation about his absence from public events, a staff member from his Tacloban-based office said Friday, April 24.
The clarification came after rumors circulated online claiming that the former House Speaker had gone into hiding or quietly left the country following recent controversies.
According to the aide, who declined to be named due to lack of authority to speak publicly, Romualdez “will not leave the country” and remains in constant communication with his staff, regularly issuing instructions and monitoring district concerns.
The lawmaker is currently under a travel restriction order issued by the Sandiganbayan, acting on a request from the Office of the Ombudsman, which denied his bid to travel to Singapore for a medical checkup.
Romualdez last visited his congressional district in March. During the April 15 visit of his cousin, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., to Tacloban City, the former House leader was not present.
The aide dismissed claims that the congressman was evading authorities as “unfounded and fake news,” attributing them to political opponents.
Despite the controversy, the congressional office continues to operate, providing assistance to constituents across the district, which covers Tacloban City and eight municipalities in Leyte.
“We continue to serve the people. Even with a four-day work week, personnel are assigned on Fridays to attend to those seeking help,” the aide said.
Romualdez has been linked to allegations involving questionable flood control projects raised by former congressman Zaldy Co.
He has denied any involvement and ordered a review and inventory of all infrastructure projects implemented in his district, including flood control initiatives.
On Friday, Romualdez asked the Ombudsman to halt its investigation into his alleged involvement in the controversy, arguing that the matter should instead be handled by an independent body. He also claimed that Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla appeared to have prejudged him.
Earlier, the Department of Public Works and Highways said there were no “ghost projects” recorded under Romualdez’s district, countering allegations tied to the issue.
TACLOBAN CITY — Government troops have killed an alleged member of the New People’s Army (NPA) and recovered a high-powered firearm following a series of encounters in Samar, the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division (8ID) reported.
The fatality, identified only as alias ‘John Paul,’ was a member of the Regional Security Force under the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee.
He was killed during a firefight on April 17, 2026, in the hinterlands of Barangay Salvacion, Jiabong, Samar, involving troops from the 46th Infantry Battalion (IB).
Soldiers recovered an M4 Bushmaster rifle at the scene after the encounter.
According to the military, the victim was left behind by fleeing fellow NPA members. His remains were brought to a funeral home in Catbalogan City and are awaiting identification and proper turnover to his family.
The encounter was part of a series of intensified military operations across Samar Island.
Prior to the encounter in Jiabong town, troops from the 19th IB also clashed with another rebel unit in Northern Samar.
On the same day as the Jiabong encounter, government forces discovered a cache of firearms in Sta. Rita, Samar.
The 8ID said the incidents reflect ongoing efforts to weaken insurgent groups operating in Eastern Visayas and reiterated its call for the remaining rebels to surrender and avail themselves of government reintegration programs.
NEW OPAPRU SECRETARY. Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administers the oath of office to Mel Senen Sarmiento as Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity during a ceremony at Malacañang Palace.
(PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE)
NEW OPAPRU SECRETARY. Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administers the oath of office to Mel Senen Sarmiento as Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity during a ceremony at Malacañang Palace. (PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE)
TACLOBAN CITY — Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has formally administered the oath of office to Mel Senen Sarmiento as Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, marking a leadership transition in the government’s peace-building efforts.
The oath-taking ceremony was held at Malacañang Palace on Tuesday, April 22, where Sarmiento officially assumed the post following the resignation of Carlito Galvez Jr., who stepped down earlier this week to focus on his family.
As the new head of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, Sarmiento is tasked with advancing peace initiatives, promoting reconciliation among various sectors, and ensuring the implementation of existing peace agreements across the country.
Sarmiento, who hails from Samar, brings extensive experience in both local and national governance. He previously served as secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government from 2015 to 2016 under former President Benigno Aquino III.
He also served as representative of Samar’s first district from 2010 to 2015 and held key local positions in Calbayog City, including mayor from 2001 to 2010 and vice mayor from 1992 to 1995.
His appointment comes as the government continues to pursue inclusive dialogue and sustainable peace efforts, particularly in conflict-affected areas across the country.
