ORMOC CITY – Leyte 4th district Representative Richard Gomez has filed a bill seeking the abolition of the K to 12 program of the Department of Education, citing its failure to meet its promised goals and the financial burden it imposes on poor families.

Gomez made the announcement on Monday, June 30, during his oath-taking ceremony for a second term, held shortly after the inauguration of newly elected and re-elected Ormoc City officials led by his wife, Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez, at the city’s Superdome.

The bill is part of Gomez’s 10-priority legislative measures filed on the first day of the 20th Congress.

“It has been proven that the K to 12 is a failure, especially in its promise that students would be job-ready after graduation. That never happened,” Gomez said.

“It has only added burden to poor families. There is clearly a problem that must be reviewed, and for me, abolishing K to 12 is the best way to go,” he added.

Implemented in 2012, the K to 12 program added two years to the basic education curriculum with the goal of improving students’ readiness for employment or higher education. However, various groups and lawmakers have called for its review or abolition, citing implementation challenges and lack of tangible benefits.

Aside from the bill abolishing the K to 12 program, Gomez also filed the following measures: prohibition of confidential and intelligence funds for agencies without mandates on national security, peace and order, or intelligence gathering; ban on natural-born males from joining female sports competitions; establishment of the Eastern Visayas Railway System, linking Tacloban, Capoocan, Ormoc, Maasin, and Pintuyan, Southern Leyte; amendments to the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (RA 9165); creation of a dedicated Dangerous Drugs Court; access to medical cannabis and the creation of a Medical Cannabis Office; creation of National Defense Act; and the establishment of the Philippine National Games.

Gomez said these ten bills are just the start of his legislative agenda. He plans to file around 140 bills and resolutions in total for the 20th Congress as he begins his second term.

The mass oath-taking event was attended by barangay officials, national agency representatives, uniformed personnel, media, students, and supporters from across the city and the district.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

ORMOC CITY – A 41-year-old internet technician listed as a high-value individual (HVI) in the local drug watchlist and his alleged accomplice were arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted by the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) and the Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) of Police Station 3.

The operation took place around 10:36 p.m. on Thursday, June 19, in Purok 1, Barangay Lao, this city.

CDEU Chief PLt. Riche Selencio identified the suspects as alias “Cielo,” 41, married, an internet technician tagged as HVI, and alias “Win,” 35, single, a fisherman listed as a Street-Level Individual (SLI). Both are residents of Barangay Lao.

According to police, “Cielo” was the primary target of the operation. However, it was “Win” who handed over a sachet containing a white crystalline substance believed to be shabu to a poseur buyer in exchange for P1,000. The sachet weighed 0.21 grams.

A body search conducted on “Cielo”, witnessed by barangay officials as mandated by law, led to the recovery of three more sachets of suspected shabu weighing 0.48 grams, along with two P500 bills—one of which matched a court-authorized marked bill used during the operation. The other was fake (boodle money).

“Win” was also found in possession of two additional sachets of suspected shabu, weighing another 0.21 grams.

During questioning, “Cielo” admitted that the drugs recovered from him were his and claimed he used them to stay alert while working. “Win”, on the other hand, insisted he was merely in the area to pick up crabs from a friend.

Both suspects were informed of their rights in a language they understood and are now detained at the Police Station 3 lock-up facility in Barangay Liloan.

The CDEU is preparing to file charges for violations of Sections 5 (sale) and 11 (possession) of Article II of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
(ROBERT DEJON)

Gains Church support

TACLOBAN CITY – Citing the need to protect its environment and future generations, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Borongan City in Eastern Samar has formally opposed destructive mining activities through a resolution urging government agencies to reject operations that threaten local ecosystems and communities.

In Resolution No. 59, unanimously approved on June 11 during the city council’s regular session, officials called on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), and other relevant agencies to deny or revoke permits for mining operations that could lead to environmental degradation.

“Whereas, destructive mining activities pose significant threat to the environment, including deforestation, loss of biodiversity, water contamination, soil erosion, and the displacement of communities,” the resolution states.

“Now Therefore, be it resolved, as it is resolved, to strongly object to any and all forms of destructive mining activities within the territorial jurisdiction of Borongan City.”

The resolution also enjoins barangays, civil society groups, environmental advocates, and church organizations to stand united in safeguarding Borongan’s natural environment for the benefit of both present and future generations.

Borongan, the resolution emphasized, is home to rich natural resources and vital watersheds that support the livelihood and health of its residents.

The measure cited the 1987 Constitution and the Local Government Code of 1991, which uphold the right of citizens to a healthful and balanced ecology and mandate local governments to protect it.

The resolution was issued in response to a June 4 notice from MGB opening applications for industrial sand and gravel permits in the municipalities of Hernani, Gen. Macarthur, and Borongan City, with 2,759.79 hectares of Borongan land included in the proposed mining area.

The move earned praise from the Diocese of Borongan, which has consistently voiced opposition to mining in Eastern Samar.

“We are very pleased with the stance of our honorable officials in Borongan City. Truly honorable. Boronganons will be very happy about this,” said Fr. James Abella, director of the Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace of the Diocese.

Fr. Abella earlier urged other provincial leaders to also register their opposition to any form of mining activity.

In response to mounting concerns, MGB Regional Director Glenn Noble clarified that the June 4 notice does not grant immediate mining authorization.

“The notice that we have is a notice denying an existing mining application and opening the area for new mining applications, not opening an area for mining operations,” Noble explained.

He also stressed that any new application must undergo thorough evaluation and comply with all regulatory requirements.

Currently, mining operations are active in parts of Eastern Samar, particularly on the islands of Manicani and Homonhon. Homonhon hosts four nickel and chromite mining firms—Min-Met Resources, Verum Terra Geosciences Inc., TelcIron Resources Inc., and Emirs Mineral Resources—while Hinatuan Mining Corp. operates on Manicani Island.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)