ORMOC CITY– Employees of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 4th District Engineering Office (DEO) took part in this year’s International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day, gathering along the shores of Ormoc Bay to clear the area of waste.

Through their collective effort, the volunteers collected a total of 58 sacks of garbage, ranging from plastic bottles and caps, food wrappers, straws and other forms of debris.
OIC-District Engineer Peter Scheler V. Soco stated that maintaining a clean environment requires the participation of everyone. “As a government office, we have a responsibility to do our part in keeping our surroundings clean,” he said. “This activity may seem simple, but collecting 58 sacks of garbage shows how much waste can accumulate in our coastal areas.”

ICC Day is a global initiative started by the Ocean Conservancy in 1986, now observed annually by millions of volunteers across over 100 countries to remove trash from beaches and waterways and raise awareness on marine pollution. In the Philippines, it is institutionalized under Presidential Proclamation No. 470, series of 2003. (PR)

Through its active support to the Municipality of Laoang, the Department of Public Works and Highways Northern Samar Second District Engineering Office (DPWH-NSSDEO) enthusiastically joined the 258th Laoang Founding Anniversary Parade on Saturday, September 19, 2026.

The parade commenced at 6:00 in the morning at the Immaculada Concepcion Plaza of Laoang and proceeded through the major streets of Laoang Poblacion. Leading the parade were Laoang Riders, followed by the Anniversary Tarpaulin, Flag Pannel composed of PNP Flag Bearers, the Philippine National Police, the Municipality of Laoang Flag, and the UEP Laoang Drum and Lyre Corps.

Vibrant marching bands, national and local government agencies, schools, and various organizations filled the streets with color, history, energy, and music showcasing the genuine Laoanganon spirit, marking the 258 years of history and rich culture.

The participation of DPWH NSSDEO in this significant celebration reflects its unwavering commitment not only to delivering quality infrastructure but also to fostering strong relationship and partnership with the communities and local government units. Through active engagement in activities that celebrate local heritage, DPWH-NSSDEO continues to support community growth and development, not only for the Municipality of Laoang, but also for the people of Laoang.

By: Jamaica I. Acebuche/PR

TACLOBAN CITY – Fisherfolk in Daram, Samar are turning to solar-powered salt production as an additional source of income, with government assistance providing equipment and training to help them develop the new livelihood activity.

The Daram Association of Fish and Squid Processors and the Barangay Ubo Dried Fish Vendors Association received equipment, materials and production inputs through the Development of the Salt Industry Project (DSIP) of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

Gilda Dosal Añez, president of the Daram Association of Fish and Squid Processors, said salt production has good potential as a livelihood because it requires relatively little capital and can be managed by women.

“The potential of salt production as a livelihood is high because it does not require a large capital investment and can be easily managed, particularly by women,” Añez said.
The Daram association, composed of 16 fisherfolk members, and the Barangay Ubo association, with 25 members, each received a solar salt production module using a low linear density polyethylene (LLDPE) liner and frame worth P100,000.

The groups also received a generator, submersible pump and high-density polyethylene drums, as well as capability-building activities to help them operate and manage the technology.

Their initial production yielded 180 kilograms of salt, which the associations used for their fish-drying activities.

The initial output showed how salt production could complement their existing livelihood activities while reducing their need to purchase salt for fish processing.

The associations plan to increase production by adding more liner setups and eventually shifting to mass production. They also intend to produce iodized, food-grade salt and explore other value-adding opportunities for their products.

They also plan to replicate the technology in other barangays interested in adopting the solar salt production system.

BFAR-8, through the DSIP, is set to provide additional P300,000 worth of collapsible salt production setups to associations in Daram to further increase their production capacity and the availability of locally produced salt.

The intervention is expected to provide fisherfolk with an additional livelihood and income source while contributing to the development of the local salt industry.

In Eastern Visayas, the DSIP has identified 230 individuals from 13 associations and one cooperative to receive various salt production interventions.

The program covers Daram Island in Samar; San Roque in Northern Samar; Maasin and Hinunangan in Southern Leyte; Baybay City in Leyte; Guiuan and Arteche in Eastern Samar; and Naval and Maripipi in Biliran.

( ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY— A P100-million bridge project in Barangay Maduroto, Matuguinao, Samar is expected to improve access to remote communities and eventually provide a direct road link between the town and Las Navas, Northern Samar.

Funded under the 2024 Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana) program, the project is intended to address transportation difficulties in geographically isolated communities and improve the movement of residents, agricultural products and other goods.

The bridge will connect the Matuguinao poblacion with outlying barangays, with the planned road network eventually extending toward Las Navas in Northern Samar.
Once completed, the project is expected to provide residents with a safer and more efficient route to the town center and other areas, reducing travel difficulties faced by communities with limited access to transportation infrastructure.

Improved connectivity is also expected to support local economic activities by making it easier for farmers and other producers to bring their products to markets.

The project could likewise improve access to government services, schools, health facilities and other essential services for residents in remote barangays.

The Pamana program supports conflict-affected and conflict-vulnerable communities through socioeconomic development and infrastructure projects. It seeks to address development gaps while complementing government peacebuilding efforts.

The Matuguinao bridge is part of efforts to use infrastructure development to improve connectivity and create opportunities for communities facing geographic and development challenges.

The planned connection to Las Navas could also strengthen economic and social interaction between communities in Samar and Northern Samar, particularly those with shared livelihood and geographic links.

Local officials said improved road access could help create conditions for greater economic activity and more efficient delivery of public services once the project is completed.

The bridge project highlights the role of infrastructure in improving access and supporting long-term development in remote communities in Eastern Visayas.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)