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Eastern Visayas media landscape shows sharp digital shift

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TACLOBAN CITY– The digital revolution is irreversibly changing how Eastern Visayas population, aged 10-64 years, consume media that redefines the landscape for mass media in the region.

In the recent Data Dissemination Forum on Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) by the Philippine Statistics Authority in Region 8, media platforms such as printed newspapers and traditional radio are witnessing a marked decline in audience exposure.

In 2024, the exposure rate of printed newspapers as a reading platform was at 19.5 percent, while radio as an audio/visual platform was at 37.8 percent. Both the printed newspaper and radio saw a significant decline at 28.9 percent for printed newspaper and 43.3 for radio, with data comparison from the 2019 FLEMMS.

The decline in exposure to printed newspapers and traditional radio reflects a broader transformation in media consumption. While not entirely obsolete, these formats must adapt by embracing digital-first strategies, interactive storytelling, and multi-platform distribution to remain relevant, according to Regional Head Reyan Arinto of the Philippine Information Agency 8.

“There remain areas in Eastern Visayas which have yet access to digital platforms, radio is still their primary source for news and information. They should still be catered to,” Arinto said.

Meanwhile, the general population in Eastern Visayas mostly uses the internet for social media at 75.4 percent, with others using it for work or research coming a little far behind at 46.3 percent.

In the Philippines, known as the “social media capital of the world,” Filipinos spend an average of over 3 hours per day on social platforms—far above the global average. From barangay updates on Facebook to viral dances on TikTok, social media has become the public square for entertainment and discussion.

With 81.1 percent in the region owning a cellular phone and with 37.2 percent subscribed to mobile broadband and 24.2 percent combinedly powered by broadband internet and satellite internet, audiences are shifting toward digital platforms including news apps, podcasts, and YouTube consuming news in bite-sized formats, often through smartphones.
The younger demographics prefer on-demand content over scheduled broadcasts or lengthy articles and feature stories, which require time and attention, are being replaced by snippets, summaries, and visuals.

The platforms may be shifting but the demand for truth, accountability, and compelling storytelling is as strong as ever.

(ACR, PIA Leyte)

Gov. Petilla says San Juanico Bridge load limit does not disrupts Leyte supply chain

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LEYTE EVRAA MEDALISTS. Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho “Icot” Petilla beams with pride over the achievements of young athletes from the Leyte Sports Academy (LSA), who contributed significantly to Eastern Visayas’ medal haul in this year’s Palarong Pambansa. As a gesture of gratitude and recognition, Petilla awarded cash incentives to the LSA athletes and their coaches during a ceremony held on June 3. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
LEYTE EVRAA MEDALISTS. Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho “Icot” Petilla beams with pride over the achievements of young athletes from the Leyte Sports Academy (LSA), who contributed significantly to Eastern Visayas’ medal haul in this year’s Palarong Pambansa. As a gesture of gratitude and recognition, Petilla awarded cash incentives to the LSA athletes and their coaches during a ceremony held on June 3. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)

PALO, Leyte-Governor Carlos Jericho ‘Icot’ Petilla said that the imposition of a load limit on the San Juanico Bridge has not significantly disrupted the supply of essential goods and fuel in the province.

Petilla, however, emphasized the need to urgently address the structural issues affecting the 2.15-kilometer bridge, which connects the islands of Leyte and Samar.

“In our monitoring last week and even this week, we compared the prices of basic goods to the suggested retail prices set by the Department of Trade and Industry, and we found no price movement,” Petilla said in an interview on Tuesday, June 3, at his office.

The governor explained that fuel and essential commodities, including rice, needed by Leyte residents and businesses do not pass through San Juanico Bridge. Instead, these are sourced from Cebu or brought directly through the Tacloban City Port, which also hosts a fuel depot.

Still, Petilla offered an alternative port in Babatngon, Leyte which could serve as a temporary route for heavy vehicles coming from the Samar side.

Currently, the Amandayehan Port in Basey, Samar is undergoing rehabilitation to serve as the main access point for trucks heading to Leyte via Tacloban City. The port is expected to be operational by June 10, allowing trucks weighing up to 3 tons to be transported via roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessels.

Petilla noted that the economic impact of the bridge’s weight restriction is felt more severely in Samar than in Leyte.

The provinces of Samar and Eastern Samar as well as the city of Tacloban are now under a state of emergency due to the San Juanico Bridge problem.

“But once the RoRo route is fully operational, and everything normalizes, the San Juanico Bridge issue may become negligible since light vehicles are still allowed to cross,” he said.

The governor also remarked that the issue is being overblown, not only by ordinary citizens but even by some public officials.

“If you ask me—yes, I think it’s being hyped. And when you cause panic, prices tend to rise unnecessarily,” he added.

Meanwhile, Eugene Tan, president of the Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry–Leyte Tacloban chapter, expressed hope that the Amandayehan Port would begin operations as scheduled on June 10.

“The longer this problem drags on, the more it will hurt our economy. Last year, we had a strong economic performance with a regional gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 6.2 percent. We might end up at the bottom next year—and that’s not good,” Tan said in a separate interview.

According to Tan, the effect of the bridge’s load limit is already being felt in Tacloban’s downtown commercial area.

“While we have yet to hear of business closures, we’ve been informed of declining income due to fewer customers, most of whom come from Samar,” he said.

JOEY A. GABIETA, ROEL T. AMAZONA

Gov. Petilla: LSA-produced athletes source of EV’s medals haul at the Palarong Pambasa

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GOV. JERICHO PETILLA
GOV. JERICHO PETILLA

PALO, Leyte– Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla has expressed pride over the remarkable performance of young athletes trained at the Leyte Sports Academy (LSA), which he established 15 years ago, following their successful campaign at the recently concluded Palarong Pambansa in Ilocos Norte.

Of the 16 gold medals secured by athletes from Eastern Visayas, 10 were won by LSA-trained athletes, underscoring the academy’s role in developing top-tier talent in the region. The region earned 16-17-21 gold, silver, and bronze medals at the Palarong Pambansa, finishing 10th overall.

The LSA, the only of its kind in the region, was established in 2010 during Petilla’s first term as governor. He is now serving the second term of his second cycle in office.
“When we created the LSA in 2010, it wasn’t just to put up another sports academy. The goal was to put Leyte—and the entire Eastern Visayas—on the sporting map of the country,” Petilla said in an interview on Tuesday, June 3.

That same day, the governor awarded cash incentives to more than 20 LSA athletes who bagged medals at the national games. Gold medalists received P8,000, silver winners P3,000, and bronze medalists P2,000.

Located at the Tacloban City sports grandstand, the LSA offers intensive training in athletics, swimming, and boxing. Students train daily after attending their regular classes.
Currently, about 50 student-athletes are enrolled in the academy at both elementary and secondary levels. The provincial government allocates more than P120 million annually to support its operations.

While proud of the athletes’ victories, Petilla emphasized that LSA is not just about winning medals, but also about creating opportunities for a better future.

“What makes me even prouder is not just the medals they bring home, but the scholarships they earn after graduating from high school—which give them a more secure future,” he said.

Many of the academy’s graduates receive scholarship offers from universities, particularly in Metro Manila.

One such athlete is Efosa John Paul Aguinaldo, 17, from Hindang, Leyte, who is about to finish senior high school. Aguinaldo, who won gold and silver in the long jump events, shared that he was offered a scholarship by National University.

“I’m happy that I was offered a scholarship by National University,” he said, though he has yet to decide what course to pursue.

His younger sister, Iyebosa Eve, 13, is also an LSA scholar and competes in athletics.

According to Petilla, LSA has consistently produced athletes who not only shine in local and national competitions but also represent the country on the global stage.

Among its most notable alumni is Aira Villegas of Tacloban City, who won a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics last year.

(JOEY A. GABIETA, ROEL T. AMAZONA)

 

Acidre slams national inaction on San Juanico Bridge crisis

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TINGOG Party-list Representative Jude Acidre delivers a privilege speech at the House of Representatives on June 2, calling for urgent and coordinated government action in response to the worsening San Juanico Bridge crisis. Photos courtesy of TINGOG Party-list.
TINGOG Party-list Representative Jude Acidre delivers a privilege speech at the House of Representatives on June 2, calling for urgent and coordinated government action in response to the worsening San Juanico Bridge crisis.
Photos courtesy of TINGOG Party-list.

TACLOBAN CITY – Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre has criticized the national government’s slow and fragmented response to the worsening transport and economic fallout from the San Juanico Bridge restrictions.

In a privilege speech delivered on Tuesday, June 3, Acidre urged national agencies to go beyond statements and take immediate, coordinated action.

“We need to work together—not in silos, not in press releases, but in action,” he said.
Acidre called for interim transport solutions, faster permits, support for stranded motorists, and protection for medical and food supply chains. He warned that rising freight costs, delayed shipments, and investor uncertainty could lead to a broader economic and logistics crisis if left unaddressed.

“This demands an urgent, no-excuses economic mitigation plan—something we should treat with the same urgency as a natural disaster,” he stressed.

Acidre commended local stakeholders, especially the Samar provincial government under Gov. Sharee Ann Tan, and regional business groups for stepping in while national agencies lagged behind.

He expressed frustration at what he described as a lack of foresight.

“Eastern Visayas is not angry about the bridge repair—we welcome it. What we can’t accept is the lack of planning and concern from those responsible,” he said.

He concluded by calling for a time-bound mitigation plan, the release of emergency funds, and clear accountability from implementing agencies.

“This is no longer just a regional concern,” Acidre said. “If this continues, it could be a preview of how poor planning leads to a national crisis.”

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

4 rebels killed, 2 others surrendered in an encounter in N. Samar

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TACLOBAN CITY – Four alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed, while two others surrendered following an armed encounter with government troops in Catubig, Northern Samar, on Tuesday, June 3.

The clash occurred around 10 am in Barangay Nagoocan, after residents reported the presence of approximately 30 armed rebels believed to be members of the Regional Guerrilla Unit and Sub-Regional Committee Arctic under the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC), according to a report from the 8th Infantry Division based in Catbalogan City, Samar.

The armed group was allegedly extorting from villagers in the area when they were engaged by elements of the 20th Infantry Battalion, based in Las Navas, Northern Samar.
A 30-minute firefight ensued, resulting in the deaths of four rebels and the surrender of two others. No casualties were reported on the government side.

Troops recovered three firearms at the clash site, a mountainous village located 14 kilometers from Catubig’s town center.

As of press time, the bodies of the slain rebels remain at the encounter site, while the two who surrendered are now in the custody of the 20th IB.

The 8th ID, which is headed by Major Gen. Adonis Ariel Orio, also reported that a day earlier, on June 2, the same battalion discovered a cache of firearms and explosives in Barangay Roxas, also in Catubig.

The discovery was made following information provided by two former rebels—alias “In-In,” vice squad leader of Squad 1, Sub-Regional Guerrilla Unit, and alias “Bug-ot” of the Regional Guerrilla Unit—who have recently surrendered and are now enrolled in the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

Recovered from the cache, believed to have been hidden after a prior clash in Barangay Sulitan on November 5, 2024, were two M14 rifles; one M16 rifle; one M653 rifle; three improvised hand grenades; and several ammunition magazines.

Maj. Gen. Orio lauded the collaboration between security forces and local communities in countering insurgency in the region.

“When those who once fought against us now stand beside us, it redefines our mission,” Orio said in a statement. “Through E-CLIP, we provide not only reintegration and livelihood but also a renewed sense of purpose.”

He reaffirmed the military’s unwavering commitment to peace and encouraged remaining NPA members to avail of the National Amnesty Program by coordinating with their families or local government units to facilitate their safe and formal surrender.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA/RONALD O. REYES)

DPWH begins road concreting project in Carigara to boost local access, trade

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TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways-Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office has launched a road concreting project in Barangay Canlampay, Carigara, Leyte to enhance mobility and economic activity in the area.

The project covers 2.2 kilometers of 200mm-thick Portland Cement Concrete Pavement (PCCP) with a 5-meter width. It also includes pipe culverts and stone masonry headwalls to improve drainage and road durability.

“This will boost connectivity and commerce, especially for farmers and small businesses relying on reliable road access,” said District Engineer Leo Edward Oppura.

Now 13% complete, the project is expected to reduce travel time, improve safety, and ease access to essential services for residents.

The Leyte 2nd DEO is closely monitoring the work to ensure timely completion in line with its mission to improve public infrastructure and support sustainable development in the district.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

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