In Samar

MATUGUINAO, Samar — This municipality has been officially declared under a Stable Internal Peace and Security Condition (SIPSC), marking what officials described as a major milestone in ending the decades-long influence of insurgency in the area.

The declaration was made during a ceremony at the municipal gymnasium on June 8, attended by local officials led by Mayor Aran Boller, military representatives headed by 8th Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. Peter Burgunio, and officials from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
For decades, Matuguinao had been considered one of the strongholds of insurgency in Samar, with communist rebel influence reported in nearly all of its barangays.

Local officials said the situation began to improve in 2019 following intensified government security operations and the municipality’s declaration of the New People’s Army as persona non grata.

Mayor Boller, visibly emotional during his speech, described the declaration as the result of years of effort and sacrifice.

“It has been a long journey toward the total emancipation of Matuguinao from the influence of the CPP-NPA-NDF,” he said, recalling the deaths of soldiers, barangay officials, and civilians during the armed conflict.

The town mayor said the SIPSC declaration signals that the municipality can now fully focus on development and long-term progress.

Boller also cited improved access to the town as a key factor in its transformation. Once accessible only by a four- to six-hour motorboat ride, Matuguinao is now connected by road to Gandara through a PAMANA-funded project completed in 2019, reducing travel time to less than an hour.

“By delivering services to all citizens equally, we have eliminated the grounds for complaints used by the NPA to justify recruitment,” he added.

The mayor credited the sustained support of military units, including the 63rd, 19th, and 43rd Infantry Battalions and the 8th Infantry Division, for helping restore peace in the municipality.

The local government is currently assisting around 60 to 70 former rebels through reintegration programs, livelihood support, and planned housing projects under the “Saad nga Balay” program, in partnership with national and provincial agencies.

Maj. Gen. Burgunio commended the cooperation of the local government and residents, saying the achievement was made possible through community support alongside security operations.

He noted that while Matuguinao had once been a difficult area for peace efforts due to its terrain and isolation, significant improvements have been achieved not only in the municipality but across Samar Island.

The SIPSC declaration means insurgency-related threats have been effectively addressed and that local institutions are now deemed capable of sustaining peace and security, based on assessment and validation by security forces.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Leyte is aiming to generate at least P4.5 million in sales during the five-day Layag Leyte Fiesta Bonanza Trade Expo 2026, which opened on June 10 at Robinsons Place Tacloban in Marasbaras and will run until June 14.

The annual trade fair brings together 36 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from across Leyte, showcasing a diverse range of locally produced goods, including processed food products, fruits and nuts, cacao-based and coconut-based items, wearable products, home décor, furniture, and health and wellness products.

Among the new products featured this year is “Rain Purple,” a healthy beverage made from blue ternate, a plant widely known for its use in herbal and wellness drinks.

According to DTI-Leyte Provincial Director Faustino Gayas Jr., several products on display are outcomes of the agency’s continuing support programs for local entrepreneurs, including training, product development, packaging enhancement, labeling assistance, and capacity-building initiatives.

The trade expo serves as a platform for MSMEs to promote their products, expand market reach, and connect with consumers and potential institutional buyers.

DTI-Leyte said the event is also intended to strengthen local entrepreneurship by enhancing the competitiveness of small businesses and providing opportunities for wider market exposure through trade fairs and business promotion activities.

(TROY B.ABARRATIGUE, LNU STUDENT INTERN)

In Leyte

TABANGO,Leyte– A village in this town served as the site of an earthquake simulation drill aimed at assessing the response capability of the Rural Health Unit (RHU) and other emergency responders during a major disaster.

The drill was conducted in Barangay Tugas on Wednesday, June 10, as part of a two-year program of Americares, which supports disaster preparedness and health system strengthening in communities affected by poverty and emergencies.

The exercise simulated a magnitude 7.8 earthquake, with residents acting as victims while barangay officials led evacuation procedures and accounted for injured and missing persons following the “quake.”

Responders included personnel from the Rural Health Unit, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), and the Municipal Engineering Office.

Americares Philippines Program Manager Rudelly Cabutin said the activity was designed not to find faults but to identify areas for improvement, particularly in coordination among agencies.

Prior to the drill, Americares provided training on first aid, mass casualty management, and evacuation procedures for RHU personnel, along with emergency response equipment support. The simulation served as an evaluation of the skills gained from the program.
Cabutin said the second year of the initiative will focus on strengthening interoperability among the RHU, MDRRMO, and other responding agencies during disasters and emergencies.

Tabango Mayor Ma. Corazon Remandaban welcomed the exercise, saying it is important for communities to remain prepared following recent earthquake incidents in other parts of the country.

Barangay Tugas Captain Joan Sarsalijo expressed gratitude to the LGU and Americares for selecting their community as the training site, saying it helped both residents and officials improve disaster response awareness and coordination.

After the drill, representatives from the Leyte Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Philippine Information Agency conducted an assessment to help further improve the municipality’s emergency response systems.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Students in Eastern Samar may soon have greater access to college education closer to home after the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a bill converting the Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) extension units in Arteche and Balangiga into regular campuses.

House Bill No. 9464, principally authored by Eastern Samar Lone District Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan, seeks to upgrade and expand the existing ESSU extension units in the two municipalities into full-fledged campuses of the province’s lone state university.

The measure is expected to strengthen higher education opportunities in Eastern Samar by bringing more degree programs and academic services closer to students in remote communities.

“This measure will significantly expand access to state-subsidized higher education across Eastern Samar. Students in and around Arteche and Balangiga will no longer have to travel far from home to pursue the college degree programs they want,” Gonzales said.

The lawmaker reiterated his commitment to making higher quality education more accessible to Eastern Samar residents.

“We remain committed to promoting greater access to high-quality, state-subsidized college education throughout Eastern Samar,” he said.

Gonzales emphasized the role of education in improving economic opportunities and uplifting families.

“There’s no question that higher learning opens more opportunities for gainful employment and gives families a better chance to improve their quality of life,” he added.

Under the proposed measure, the new campuses will offer undergraduate and graduate degree programs, technical-vocational courses, and research and extension services. Each campus will be headed by a full-time campus director.

ESSU currently serves nearly 25,000 students and employs 721 faculty members across its campuses.

Once the measure becomes law, the university’s campus network will expand to seven, including its main campus in Borongan City and existing regular campuses in Can-avid, Guiuan, Maydolong, and Salcedo.

The creation of the new campuses is expected to further strengthen ESSU’s role in delivering affordable and accessible higher education to students throughout Eastern Samar.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)