TACLOBAN CITY — A total of 124 members of the Batakang Organisasyon Pampartido (BOP) and Yunit Milisya (YM) have officially withdrawn their support for the New People’s Army (NPA) and pledged allegiance to the Philippine government in a ceremony held in Matuguinao, Samar.

The event, titled “Declaration and Withdrawal of Support of the Batakang Organisasyong Pampartido and Yunit Milisya,” gathered local officials, military and police officers, and community leaders, marking another milestone in the province’s continuing drive for peace and stability.

Representing Governor Sharee Ann Tan and Rep. Stephen James “Jimboy” Tan, Jessa Mae Jumaday reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to peacebuilding and inclusive development. She said the Tan siblings view the mass withdrawal as a crucial victory in the campaign to end insurgency in Samar.

Matuguinao Mayor Aran Dela Cruz Boller led the ceremony, emphasizing the local government’s dedication to sustaining peace and helping former rebels reintegrate into mainstream society.

“This declaration marks more than just an event—it is a renewed commitment to live in harmony, trust our government, and build a stronger, safer, and more progressive Matuguinao,” he said.

Vice Mayor Cleofe Belonio and members of the Sangguniang Bayan joined the mayor in expressing their support, alongside BGen. Carmelito Pangatungan of the 803rd Infantry Brigade, LtCol. Jason Que of the 43rd Infantry Battalion, PLt. Dante B. Evangelista, chief of police of Matuguinao, and members of the 33rd Special Action Company.

During the ceremony, the former BOP and YM members took an oath of allegiance to the government, symbolizing their rejection of the communist movement. Many expressed hope for a fresh start, vowing to work with authorities to promote peace and development in their communities.

Officials described the mass surrender as a significant step forward in the national government’s efforts to end local armed conflict through compassion, dialogue, and livelihood support.

“This is not only a victory against insurgency but a triumph of renewed trust between the government and the people,” Mayor Boller added.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — In the wake of the devastation caused by Typhoon ‘Opong’, the provincial government of Biliran has launched the “Bahay at Pag-asa” (Home and Hope) program to provide shelter assistance to more than 150 families whose houses were totally destroyed by the storm.

Governor Rogelio Espina spearheaded the initiative, held on Oct.20, describing it as a concrete expression of Serbisyong Biliranon—a brand of public service built on compassion, unity, and resilience.

“A house is not just a roof and walls. It is a symbol of hope, of new beginnings, and of the Biliranon spirit that never gives up,” Espina said during the program’s launch.

He assured the affected families that the provincial government will continue to coordinate with local and national agencies to ensure that all victims receive the necessary support for their recovery.

Espina also thanked municipal and barangay officials for their steadfast commitment and cooperation in delivering assistance to affected residents, stressing that rebuilding communities requires collective effort.

“Our mission is not for one, but for all. In every home we help rebuild, hope is reborn,” he said.

Beyond providing shelter, Espina emphasized that the “Bahay at Pag-asa” program symbolizes a broader commitment to rebuild lives, restore dignity, and strengthen the Biliranon spirit—proving that the province continues to rise stronger and more united after every disaster.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

Ormoc City – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 4th District Engineering Office donated one (1) electronic total station, two (2) tables, and two (2) desktop computers to Visayas State University (VSU) Isabel Campus on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. These items, which had been declared unserviceable by the office, were turned over after the university asked for assistance due to a shortage of equipment.

VSU Isabel Campus Chancellor Catherine L. Chan, PhD, personally received the donation, which will be used to support the school’s engineering and technical programs. The items are expected to give students more hands-on experience in their studies.

District Engineer Peter Scheler V. Soco said that the initiative reflects the agency’s continuing support for local academic institutions. “Through this simple act, we hope to help nurture future engineers and strengthen our partnership with the education sector,” he shared. He added that the DEO aims to continue promoting learning opportunities and community development in the district. (PR)

MANILA, Philippines-GCash, the Philippines’ leading finance super app with the largest cashless ecosystem, announced the official launch of the GCash Pera Outlet Plus. Designed to economically empower Nano, Micro and Small (NMS) businesses, such as sari-sari stores, carinderias, and other community-based retail shops, by becoming a local hub for daily digital financial transactions, such as cash-in, cash-out, load purchase, and bills payment in their communities.

GCash Pera Outlet Plus transforms sari-sari stores into local hubs for daily digital financial transactions, enabling retailers to earn additional income that helps drive inclusive growth in thriving local economies

The new GCash Pera Outlet Plus is a separate and dedicated merchant app, currently available for Android mobile devices, that offers a wide range of digital financial services, with simple and powerful tools that enables community-based retail stores to earn additional income and help grow their businesses.

Store owners can unlock income streams and higher earning potential that can augment revenues to their existing business by earning commissions from everyday GCash financial services. Unlike a standard consumer e-wallet, the GCash Pera Outlet Plus wallet is designed for high-volume community transactions, offering higher wallet limits and a separate account history for better transaction tracking and management.

To help GCash Per Outlet Plus partner stores succeed, GCash offers a range of support including, but not limited to, free store merchandising set-up, exclusive merchant promotions and helpful digital tools such as “My Suki” to save customer details and avoid mistakes in keying-in numbers, frontliner delegation features to allow a store front personnel to run the business while owners are away, and a very simple business onboarding process.

With thousands of registered outlets nationwide, GCash Pera Outlet Plus plays a vital role in the country’s digital transformation and in bridging the financial gap, as it paves the way to digitalization at the grassroots community level through NMS businesses.

“At GCash, we believe that empowering community-based retails shops is key to building a more inclusive and resilient economy,” said RenRen Reyes, CEO of G-Xchange, Inc. “With the new GCash Pera Outlet Plus, we’re giving nano,micro and small entrepreneurs the tools to help grow their businesses further, serve their communities, and contribute to national development. This is a commitment to uplift local livelihoods and drive economic progress from the ground up.”

The GCash Pera Outlet Plus features help ensure that NMS businesses—have the digital tools to adapt, thrive, earn, and lead. This initiative is a core reflection of GCash’s commitment to inclusive innovation in line with its vision of providing “Finance for All”. This vision centers on accelerating financial inclusion by providing accessible and meaningful digital finance solutions to empower all Filipinos, especially those who are unbanked or underserved by traditional financial institutions.

By expanding digital financial services to the furthest reaches of the country, the initiative directly supports the Philippine Government’s digitalization agenda for local and national economic development. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY — In the wake of the devastation caused by Typhoon ‘Opong’, the provincial government of Biliran has launched the “Bahay at Pag-asa” (Home and Hope) program to provide shelter assistance to more than 150 families whose houses were totally destroyed by the storm.

Governor Rogelio Espina spearheaded the initiative, held on Oct.20, describing it as a concrete expression of Serbisyong Biliranon—a brand of public service built on compassion, unity, and resilience.

“A house is not just a roof and walls. It is a symbol of hope, of new beginnings, and of the Biliranon spirit that never gives up,” Espina said during the program’s launch.

He assured the affected families that the provincial government will continue to coordinate with local and national agencies to ensure that all victims receive the necessary support for their recovery.

Espina also thanked municipal and barangay officials for their steadfast commitment and cooperation in delivering assistance to affected residents, stressing that rebuilding communities requires collective effort.

“Our mission is not for one, but for all. In every home we help rebuild, hope is reborn,” he said.

Beyond providing shelter, Espina emphasized that the “Bahay at Pag-asa” program symbolizes a broader commitment to rebuild lives, restore dignity, and strengthen the Biliranon spirit—proving that the province continues to rise stronger and more united after every disaster.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)