TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the region, through the Southern Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office, has restricted three bridges along the Maharlika Highway in Sogod town to light vehicles following structural damage caused by Typhoon ‘Tino’.
In an advisory issued on November 11, 2025, at 2 p.m., the DPWH identified the affected bridges as Maac Bridge I (K1024+407), Buac Bridge (K1023+149), and Nahulid Bridge (K1027+665).
Effective immediately, only vehicles weighing three tons and below are allowed to cross the said bridges. The restriction was based on an engineering assessment that found damaged bridge abutments and scouring on approaches A and B, which could compromise safety if heavier vehicles pass through.
“Heavy vehicles are strictly prohibited from crossing the said bridges to prevent further structural damage and to ensure the safety of the traveling public,” the advisory stated.
Motorists traveling from Saint Bernard, Liloan, and Panaon Island toward Sogod-Mahaplag-Tacloban, Sogod-Bato-Maasin, or Sogod-Bato-Baybay via the Maharlika Highway are advised to take alternate routes: Jct. Himay-angan–Silago–Abuyog Boundary Road (for vehicles from Liloan to Silago); and Abuyog–Silago Road (for vehicles from Silago to Abuyog proper).
Motorists from Sogod are also urged to use the same alternate routes.
The DPWH apologized for the inconvenience and appealed for the public’s patience and cooperation as its personnel undertake repair and safety measures on the affected structures.
GCash, the Philippines’ leading finance super app, has teamed up with CARD Indogrosir, a hybrid local retail chain that caters not just to retail customers but also wholesale clients. Through this partnership, GCash is rolling out SoundPay devices in all CARD Indogrosir stores, enabling faster and more efficient transactions.
Powered by a compact device that emits a distinct audio cue upon a successful payment, SoundPay allows merchants to confirm transactions instantly—no need to check phones or request screenshots. This scan-to-pay system is especially useful in areas with limited connectivity, where reliability and speed are essential.
These devices are already available in 29 branches of CARD Indogrosir, with plans to add 44 more before the year ends, and expand this to a total 200 stores by next year.
For GCash users, SoundPay delivers a more intuitive, secure, and modern payment experience. For merchants, it streamlines operations, reduces delays, and supports smoother interactions with both bulk buyers and walk-in customers.
By integrating SoundPay into CARD Indogrosir’s retail network, GCash is enabling more businesses to adopt digital payments with confidence and ease.
“This partnership is about meeting users where they are and making payments work better for everyone. SoundPay brings speed, simplicity, and trust to everyday transactions,” said Jong Layug at Group Head of GCash for Business.
“At CARD MRI, we believe that inclusive growth begins with empowering the smallest entrepreneurs – our Sari-sari store owner members. Through our partnership with GCash and SoundPay, we are not only modernizing payments but also creating opportunities for every member of the CARD community as well as the general public to grow, compete, and thrive,” said Frederick Torres, EVP for CARD Indogrosir.
As SoundPay begins its rollout, GCash continues to lead the way in building financial systems that are not only innovative but inclusive—enabling merchants and customers to transact with greater ease, trust, and relevance—one tap at a time.
CARD Indogrosir is a joint venture between CARD MRI—the largest microfinance institution in the Philippines—and Indonesia’s Indogrosir under the Salim Group. It was founded in 2023, aligned with CARD MRI’s ultimate goal of eradicating poverty in the country, as it helps support Filipino micro-retailers by giving them access to wholesale pricing, logistics solutions, and much-needed financial services—making it a strategic partner in the inclusive innovation push of GCash. (PR)
STATE OF CALAMITY. Northern Samar’s provincial disaster council placed the province under a state of calamity on Wednesday, Nov. 12, following the widespread destruction caused by Super Typhoon Uwan. Photo shows a house made of light materials that was completely destroyed in Mapanas town due to the powerful storm.
(PHOTO COURTESY LAVISHNE GARNETTE)
As recommended by its PDRRMC
STATE OF CALAMITY. Northern Samar’s provincial disaster council placed the province under a state of calamity on Wednesday, Nov. 12, following the widespread destruction caused by Super Typhoon Uwan. Photo shows a house made of light materials that was completely destroyed in Mapanas town due to the powerful storm. (PHOTO COURTESY LAVISHNE GARNETTE)
TACLOBAN CITY– The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) of Northern Samar has recommended placing the entire province under a state of calamity following the devastation left by Super Typhoon ‘Uwan’, which displaced thousands of families and damaged homes and public infrastructure.
Governor Harris Ongchuan, who chairs the council, approved the recommendation during a PDRRMC meeting on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
The resolution will be forwarded to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for affirmation during its regular session on Friday.
According to Provincial DRRM Officer Rei Josiah Echano, Uwan’s powerful winds and storm surges battered Northern Samar from the evening of November 8 until midday of November 9, affecting 94,199 families across 548 barangays.
The storm displaced 36,843 families (130,356 individuals) and left 16,826 houses partially damaged and 426 totally destroyed, mostly in the municipalities of Biri, Laoang, and Rosario.
The province also reported damage to infrastructure, including the well-known Pinusilan Bridge, a tourist attraction located in the town of Mapanas, which collapsed under the force of strong waves and storm surges.
Governor Ongchuan directed the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) to prioritize emergency shelter and recovery assistance for families with limited means to rebuild.
He also emphasized the need to maintain 5,000 to 10,000 prepositioned relief goods in preparation for future weather disturbances.
Vice Governor Clarence Dato supported the governor’s directive, stressing that assistance should follow the standard response protocol—from barangays to municipalities, with the province augmenting when local resources are exhausted.
The province of Northern Samar reported of zero casualty due to the storm, citing its forced or preemptive evacuation efforts as the factor.
On Tuesday, Nov.11, Eastern Samar has also declared a state of calamity following the extensive damage caused by Uwan in several of its coastal towns.
HOT MEALS FOR UWAN VICTIMS. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has provided hot meals through its mobile kitchen to families affected by both Typhoons Tino and Uwan in the region.
(DSWD EASTERN VISAYAS FACEBOOK)
TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has intensified its relief and recovery operations in Eastern Visayas, delivering hot meals and assistance to families affected by Typhoons Uwan and Tino across the region.
HOT MEALS FOR UWAN VICTIMS. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has provided hot meals through its mobile kitchen to families affected by both Typhoons Tino and Uwan in the region. (DSWD EASTERN VISAYAS FACEBOOK)
In the town of Hinunangan, Southern Leyte, DSWD’s Mobile Kitchen has been serving freshly cooked, nutritious meals to residents displaced by Typhoon Tino. The initiative, carried out by the DSWD’s field personnel known as the “Angels in Red Vests,” ensures that evacuees and affected families receive hot food daily while they recover from the storm’s impact.
At the same time, the DSWD continues to provide food and financial aid to communities reeling from the twin typhoons. In Northern Samar, the DSWD Field Office VIII distributed 733 ready-to-eat food packs (RTEF) to families affected by Super Typhoon Uwan in Maravilla Island, Lavezares.
Each pack contained three chocolate rice (champorado) meals, two chicken rice (arroz caldo) meals, one sachet of complementary food, five canned tuna paella, one canned chicken pastil, one canned chicken giniling, and two high-protein bars. The food packs were delivered in coordination with the local government to ensure safe and timely distribution.
“These efforts are part of our mandate to make sure that no one goes hungry during disasters, particularly in hard-to-reach and severely affected areas,” the DSWD said.
Beyond food relief, the agency also provided financial assistance to families in Southern Leyte who lost loved ones during Typhoon Tino. Under its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program, DSWD distributed a total of P47,000 to four bereaved families — including two beneficiaries from Sogod, one from Liloan, and another from Libagon who received a guarantee letter for funeral-related services.
The DSWD reaffirmed its commitment to deliver timely, compassionate, and sustained assistance to all affected residents as Eastern Visayas continues its recovery from the successive impacts of Typhoons Uwan and Tino.
TACLOBAN CITY — Sixty-six local government units (LGUs) across Eastern Visayas have been recognized as 2025 Local Governance Champions for their exemplary performance in promoting transparency, accountability, participation, and effective public service.
The Regional Champions for Good Local Governance (RCGLG) announced the awardees following a rigorous evaluation process that assessed innovation, responsiveness, and sustainability in local leadership. The recognition was formalized under RCGLG Resolution No. 003, Series of 2025.
Awardees include the provinces of Biliran, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, and Southern Leyte; the cities of Baybay, Calbayog, Maasin, and Ormoc; and 57 municipalities across the region that demonstrated excellence in governance and development initiatives.
Officials said the recognition underscores the continued commitment of local leaders and communities to uphold good governance and deliver quality services that improve the lives of their constituents.
WRATH OF NATURE. Super Typhoon “Uwan” wreaked havoc across Eastern Visayas, displacing over 39,000 families and damaging homes and infrastructure, including the seawall in Catbalogan City.
(MASTER INCHEK)
Houses damaged, power cut off
WRATH OF NATURE. Super Typhoon “Uwan” wreaked havoc across Eastern Visayas, displacing over 39,000 families and damaging homes and infrastructure, including the seawall in Catbalogan City. (MASTER INCHEK)
TACLOBAN CITY — Super Typhoon “Uwan” (international name: Fung-Wong) has forced 39,729 families, or 137,516 individuals, from their homes across Eastern Visayas, leaving communities to grapple with the storm’s relentless winds and heavy rains, according to Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) as of 9:21 p.m. Sunday.
The evacuees are currently sheltered in 459 evacuation centers out of 3,092 designated sites across the region’s six provinces and two cities.
Northern Samar recorded the highest number of displaced families at 15,809, followed by Eastern Samar with 9,042 families, Southern Leyte with 5,496, Biliran with 3,901, Samar with 3,603, and Leyte with 1,978 families.
Tragically, one life was lost amid the storm. A 64-year-old woman, identified only as “Faye,” died when her house, made of light materials, collapsed early Sunday morning in Seaside Pier 2, Barangay 3, Catbalogan City.
The Catbalogan City Police Station reported that the incident occurred around 4 a.m., during the height of Uwan’s strong winds and heavy rains.
Rescue personnel from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and Philippine Coast Guard retrieved her body from the debris at about 9:05 a.m. Her remains were taken to Samar Memorial Chapel, and a post-mortem examination has been requested to determine the exact cause of death.
Authorities also reported injuries to a 45-year-old man, Juan Jularisa of Barangay Lucban, Bobon, Northern Samar.
Widespread disruptions affected transportation and utilities.
At least 918 passengers were stranded in various seaports, mostly in Northern and Samar, following the cancellation of one ship voyage in Isabel, Leyte, and five domestic flights in Tacloban City.
Power outages were reported in 223 areas across the region, with all barangays in Northern Samar losing electricity. Other provinces, including Leyte, Southern Leyte, and Eastern Samar, also experienced widespread interruptions.
Flooding was recorded in towns including Jipapad, Arteche, and Borongan City in Eastern Samar; and Daram, Paranas, Jiabong, and Catbalogan City in Samar, where part of the seawall was damaged and the roof of a covered court in Barangay Payao was blown away. Several fishing boats along the coast were destroyed.
Infrastructure also suffered: in Mapanas, Northern Samar, a concrete footbridge leading to the town’s Blue Lagoon tourist spot was washed away. Numerous houses—mostly made of light materials—were damaged or destroyed in San Sebastian, Samar; Villaba and Baybay City, both in Leyte; Naval, Biliran; and several towns in Northern Samar, including Laoang and Catarman.
Police Regional Office 8 deployed 457 personnel for disaster response operations, including evacuation center security, road clearing, and search and rescue duties. Despite the storm’s severity, authorities reported no incidents of looting, and only two barangays in Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte, were temporarily isolated.
Trees and electric posts were uprooted across the region, causing widespread power interruptions. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) confirmed electricity losses in parts of Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar.
The destruction caused by Uwan came as the region was still reeling with the impacts of Typhoon ‘Tino’ and as it was commemorating the 12th year anniversary of Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda.’
