TACLOBAN CITY – The National Amnesty Commission (NAC) is expanding its efforts in Eastern Visayas to support the reintegration of former insurgents into mainstream society.
In the region, the local amnesty boards, both in Tacloban City for Leyte and Catbalogan City for Samar Island have processed a combined total of 434 applications.

These boards play a crucial role in facilitating the amnesty process, ensuring that applicants fully understand the conditions and commitments required for their reintegration.

Lawyer Leah Tanodra Armamento, NAC chairperson clarified, that the NAC cannot guarantee that all former rebels will not return to insurgency after receiving government interventions.

“Actually, we cannot assure that they will not go back, but for us, the government is giving them the opportunity to make their lives better,” Armamento said during the ‘Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas’ of the Philippine Information Agency on Tuesday, March 18.

Moreover, local amnesty boards offer livelihood programs, scholarships for children, and financial assistance to help former rebels establish a stable future.

“These interventions include financial assistance, livelihood programs, scholarships for their children, and even PhilHealth IDs for some applicants,” Armamento stated.

The government’s approach to amnesty focuses on providing opportunities for a better life, although it cannot guarantee that all applicants will fully reintegrate into society.

(LANCE ARCHIE TORING, LNU STUDENT INTERN)

1st in Northern Samar

TACLOBAN CITY– A business process outsourcing (BPO) company plans to establish a call center in Catarman, Northern Samar, opening new job opportunities among the locals.
During a meeting on March 18, representatives of the Magpayo Group of Companies (MGC), led by its chief operating officer Leonilo Lorenzo Magpayo Jr. personally presented their proposal to Mayor Francisco Aurelio Rosales III.

The meeting, held at the mayor’s office, focused on the company’s plan to set up its operations in Catarman, the municipal information office reported on Tuesday, March 18.
Based on the information, MGC, a local BPO company which is based in Catarman with the United States as its main market, will start with 15 call center agents who will undergo a 15-day training on English proficiency and call center operations. This initial phase will serve as a trial period to assess the capabilities of local talents.

“If the first phase is successful, we plan to expand to 50 employees and eventually grow to 100 agents, depending on the demand from our U.S.-based client,” Magpayo said, as quoted by the municipal information office.

The plan for its initial operation is June of this year.

Mayor Rosales welcomed the potential arrival of the BPO industry in Catarman and expressed his full support for MGC’s plans.

“This is a welcome development for us because it opens new job opportunities and proves that we are capable of accommodating large industries,” the mayor said, the report said.
MGC will work closely with the Catarman Public Employment Service Office (PESO) for the hiring process.

(JOEY A. GABIETA/ROEL T. AMAZONA))

ORMOC CITY– A 21-year-old motorcycle driver sustained minor injuries after his vehicle sideswiped a tricycle along the National Highway in Barangay San Isidro, Biliran, Biliran at around 1:20 pm on Monday, March 17.

The injured driver, identified as alias “Law”, a photographer from Barangay Hugpa, was riding a blue Suzuki FU150 Raider 150. The tricycle driver, alias “Bry”, 38, from Divine Grace Village, Barangay Burabod, was operating his yellow Bajaj tricycle (MOCAB) at the time of the incident.

According to an initial police investigation, both vehicles were traveling in the same direction when the tricycle, which was ahead, made a left turn. The motorcycle then collided with the tricycle, causing the rider to suffer minor injuries, while the tricycle driver remained unharmed.

Responding officers from Biliran Municipal Police Station brought both drivers and their vehicles to the station for proper disposition.
(ROBERT DEJON)