ORMOC CITY — A businessman became the latest drug personality to fall in the continuing anti-drug campaign of the local police after he was arrested in a buy-bust operation at around 11:17 p.m. on Friday, November 28, in Barangay Candadam, Baybay City.
Police identified the suspect as alias “Monching,” 49, married, a businessman, and a resident of the same barangay.
Recovered from his possession was one sachet of suspected shabu purchased by an undercover operative for P500. During the body search, conducted in the presence of law-mandated witnesses, police recovered a small transparent plastic container with five additional sachets of suspected shabu. Authorities also seized a marked P500 bill used in the operation and a yellow lighter.
The suspect was informed of the nature of his arrest and apprised of his constitutional rights in a language he understood.
Charges for violations of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are being prepared against the suspect, who is temporarily detained at the locked-up cell of the Baybay City Police Station.
CALL FOR TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY. Bishop Crispin Varquez of the Diocese of Borongan has called on the faithful within his diocese to join the call for transparency and accountability following the flood control project scandal.(FILE PHOTO)
Call for transparency, accountability
CALL FOR TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY. Bishop Crispin Varquez of the Diocese of Borongan has called on the faithful within his diocese to join the call for transparency and accountability following the flood control project scandal.(FILE PHOTO)
TACLOBAN CITY — Borongan Bishop Crispin Varquez has called on Catholics in Eastern Samar to participate in the nationwide anti-corruption demonstrations on November 30, underscoring the importance of peaceful civic action to demand transparency and accountability from public officials.
In a video pastoral message, Bishop Varquez said that even though Eastern Samar is far from Metro Manila, local parishioners can still express solidarity with those joining the large protest in the capital.
“Even though we are far from Manila, we express our oneness with them by wearing white clothes and attending Mass this Sunday,” the bishop said.
He described the effort as a “peaceful and prayerful protest” against corruption, urging the faithful to wear white—symbolizing purity, honesty, and unity—when attending Sunday Mass. The act echoes similar calls from dioceses across the country in support of the Bonifacio Day demonstrations.
The November 30 rally follows a massive anti-corruption protest held on September 21, which drew tens of thousands of participants calling for clean governance and stronger safeguards against political dynasties.
Organizers expect an even broader coalition this time, bringing together religious groups, civil society organizations, and reform advocates united in their call for integrity in public service.
Across the Philippines, dioceses are preparing simultaneous activities, including prayer rallies and Masses for good governance, to allow participation even from communities unable to join the main protest in Metro Manila.
Bishop Varquez clarified that the Church’s involvement is non-partisan, emphasizing that its role is moral rather than political.
“Our goal is to strengthen the public’s call for honesty in government while upholding peace and non-violence,” he said.
The Borongan Diocese has long supported national campaigns for social justice, environmental protection, human rights, and institutional reform—efforts the bishop said are consistent with the Church’s mission to promote the common good.
LAND TITLE DISTRIBUTION. Over 5,000 farmers from across the region received their titles and certificate of condonations during a ceremony held at the astrodome on Tuesday, Nov.25, attended by DAR Sec. Conrado Estrella III. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
LAND TITLE DISTRIBUTION. Over 5,000 farmers from across the region received their titles and certificate of condonations during a ceremony held at the astrodome on Tuesday, Nov.25, attended by DAR Sec. Conrado Estrella III. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
TACLOBAN CITY – Agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from across Eastern Visayas received a major boost after the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) rolled out P50 million worth of assistance—including farm machineries, e-titles, and Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROM)—in a regional awarding held at the Tacloban City Astrodome on Tuesday, Nov. 25.
DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III personally led the distribution ceremony attended by ARBs from the six provinces of the region.
A total of 88 farm machineries and equipment were turned over to agrarian cooperatives and organizations in Samar, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, and Biliran. The machines distributed included elf trucks, three-wheeled motorcycles, tractors, mobile rice mills, floating tillers, and rice threshers with blowers.
One of the beneficiaries, Armando Orale, president of the Far East Farmers Agrarian Reform Cooperative in Can-avid, Eastern Samar, said the assistance will directly ease farm labor and improve productivity for their more than 40 members cultivating individual farms and a five-hectare communal lot planted to rice, vegetables, and root crops.
Orale shared that they previously relied on manual labor but took the initiative to request assistance from DAR—an appeal that was granted through the newly awarded equipment.
“Now that we have machineries, this will help us hasten our work on the farm, which will benefit not only our families but also our livelihood,” he said.
The group received two hand tractors with trailers worth P280,000, along with eight floating tillers (turtle-type) worth P70,000 each and eight floating tillers (mudboat-type) also worth P70,000 each.
In his message, Secretary Estrella said the agency remains committed to delivering more programs in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to strengthen support services for farmers.
“Expect that the government will provide more assistance to our farmers in the days to come,” Estrella said.
Alongside the turnover of machineries, DAR also awarded 4,613 e-titles to 4,190 ARBs covering 10,000.73 hectares, and 3,011 COCROM documents to 2,048 beneficiaries, amounting to P99,394,966.65 covering 4,492.39 hectares.
DAR is targeting to complete the distribution of the remaining 800,000 land titles nationwide before the end of President Marcos’ term in 2028. For 2025, the agency aimed to distribute 300,000 titles but was hampered by weather-related disruptions, reaching a little over 200,000 as of November.
“But we are optimistic—and we have reason to be optimistic—that we can achieve our goal this year,” Estrella said, adding that once land title distribution is completed, DAR will fully shift its efforts toward expanded support services for ARBs.
RECOGNITION. The Tingog party-list group received recognition in this year’s Kabalikat Awards of the Technical Education, Skills and Development Authority for advancing and promoting technical and vocational courses. Rep. Jude Acidre received the award. (PHOTO COURTESY)
RECOGNITION. The Tingog party-list group received recognition in this year’s Kabalikat Awards of the Technical Education, Skills and Development Authority for advancing and promoting technical and vocational courses. Rep. Jude Acidre received the award. (PHOTO COURTESY)
TACLOBAN CITY – Tingog party-list has been conferred the 2025 National Kabalikat Award under the Legislative Category, one of the highest honors granted by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to outstanding partners in technical-vocational education and training.
The award was presented during the Kabalikat Awards and Search for Idols ng TESDA Awarding Ceremony on November 24, 2025, at the Philippine Trade Training Center in Pasay City.
Receiving the recognition on behalf of Tingog was Rep. Jude Acidre, who was joined by Assistant Regional Director and TESDA Leyte Provincial Director Engr. Enrico Banario—representing Regional Director Dan Navarro—and Gabrielle Eriza Canales, TESDA Region VIII’s Regional Kabalikat focal.
The legislative award underscores the strong partnership between TINGOG and TESDA, particularly in expanding access to technical-vocational education and supporting workforce development initiatives nationwide.
As part of the ceremony, Rep. Acidre was also presented a Special Award in appreciation of his sustained support for TESDA’s programs and advocacies.
In his message, Acidre expressed gratitude for the recognition and pledged that TINGOG will continue championing skills development and livelihood opportunities, especially for workers and learners in Eastern Visayas.
The Kabalikat Awards is TESDA’s highest institutional commendation for organizations and leaders that have exhibited exemplary dedication to the advancement of technical-vocational training in the Philippines.
TACLOBAN CITY — Local governments across Eastern Visayas earned national recognition after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 8 named the 2025 Local Legislative Awards (LLA) regional winners and finalists, highlighting Sanggunians whose policy-making efforts have driven good governance and community development.
The Local Legislative Awards honor legislative bodies that exemplify effectiveness in crafting ordinances and resolutions aligned with transparency, accountability, and sustainable growth within their local government units.
In its announcement, DILG Region 8 congratulated the awardees, noting that their “dedication, innovation, and commitment continue to uplift governance standards across the region.” The office added that it looks forward to the continued leadership of local legislators as partners in strengthening good governance and genuine local autonomy.
The regional winners with their respective categories include: 1st–3rd class municipalities Category- regional champion: Kananga, Leyte; 1st runner-up: Naval, Biliran; and 2nd runner-up: Sogod, Southern Leyte.
4th–6th Class Municipalities Category: regional champion: Gamay, Northern Samar; 1st runner-up- Macrohon, Southern Leyte and 2nd runner-up: Babatngon, Leyte.
Independent Component City (ICC) Category: regional champion: Ormoc City.
In the component city category: regional champion- Maasin City; 1st runner-up, Calbayog City; and 2nd runner-up, Baybay City.
In the 2025 Local Legislative Awards, the regional finalists include 1st–3rd class municipalities, Dolores, Eastern Samar, Laoang, Northern Samar, and Basey, Samar.
In the 4th–6th class municipalities: Cabucgayan, Biliran; Salcedo, Eastern Samar; and Pinabacdao, Samar.
Component Cities: Borongan City and Highly Urbanized City, Tacloban City.
DILG-8 said the recognition of the region’s top-performing Sanggunians reflects Eastern Visayas’ growing commitment to strong and responsive legislation that directly benefits local communities.
NEW ROAD. Villagers from sitio Soledad in Barangay Santo Niño, Jaro, Leyte could now travel with convenience with the completion of an access road. (L2DEO)
NEW ROAD. Villagers from sitio Soledad in Barangay Santo Niño, Jaro, Leyte could now travel with convenience with the completion of an access road. (L2DEO)
TACLOBAN CITY – Residents of Sitio Soledad in Barangay Santo Niño, Jaro, Leyte are now experiencing safer and more convenient travel following the completion of a newly paved access road by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office (L2DEO).
The project features a 0.8975-kilometer, 0.2-meter-thick Portland Cement Concrete Pavement (PCCP) with a 5-meter-wide carriageway, including reflectorized thermoplastic pavement markings to improve night-time visibility.
District Engineer Leo Edward Oppura said the improvement forms part of the agency’s continuing efforts to upgrade road networks in remote communities and strengthen access to essential services, markets, and disaster-resilient routes.
With the upgraded road, farmers can transport produce more efficiently, while workers and students can travel to and from the town center with greater ease—even during bad weather, he said.
Among the residents who welcomed the road improvement is storekeeper Irene Dumayos, who said daily travel has drastically improved.
“Many thanks to the DPWH for your project. Our road is now good, and our travel—to the town and returning home—is much easier. We are very grateful for the project you provided here in Sitio Soledad,” she said.
Dumayos recalled how difficult life was before the road was completed, especially during the rainy season.
“Before this project came, our situation here was really difficult, especially when going to the town proper and returning home. During heavy rains, the road would flood and we would get stuck. Sometimes, we had to wade through the water and even push our motorcycles.
“Tuba gatherers carrying their harvest also struggled to transport their goods, and our students sometimes had to walk because the road was impassable going to the lowland area. Now that this project has been completed, we are deeply grateful that the road has been concreted and widened compared to before,” Dumayos added.
Construction of the access road began on March 24, 2025, and was completed on June 17, 2025. The project, funded under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) with a total cost of P9.87 million, was implemented by Filzand Construction.
