TACLOBAN CITY – The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) has facilitated the voluntary surrender of two former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in separate operations in Samar on September 1, 2025.
In Sta. Rita, elements of the Municipal Police Station and the Regional Intelligence Unit-8 assisted the surrender of alias “Jerry,” 35, a former member of SRGU Bugsok, SRC Sesame, and EVRPC, active from 2013 to 2022. With the help of a relative, he chose to leave the armed movement to pursue a peaceful life. He turned over a .357 caliber revolver with six live rounds, now under police custody for proper disposal.
On the same day in Calbiga, alias “Itong,” 53, a farmer and former member of the Apoy Platoon, SRC Sesame, EVRPC, yielded to the 2nd Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company (SPMFC) after a series of negotiations. He is now under the protective custody of the 2nd SPMFC and has received initial cash assistance and grocery items.
Police Regional Director B/Gen. Jason Capoy lauded the police units involved, saying the peaceful surrender of former rebels reflects communities’ trust in government initiatives to maintain security and promote reintegration. Both returnees are being assessed for enrollment in the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
PRO-8 reaffirmed its commitment to support the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and encouraged other active members of the communist group to surrender and embrace a peaceful and productive life.
POWER SUPPLY. After years of suffering of inadequate power supply the island of Higatangan, Naval in Biliran will soon have a 24 hours and reliable power supply with the installation of a submarine cable to start this Saturday, Sept. 6. (PHOTO COURTESY)
Reliable power in sight
POWER SUPPLY. After years of suffering of inadequate power supply the island of Higatangan, Naval in Biliran will soon have a 24 hours and reliable power supply with the installation of a submarine cable to start this Saturday, Sept. 6. (PHOTO COURTESY)
TACLOBAN CITY – A long-awaited upgrade in power reliability for Higatangan Island, Naval in Biliran is underway as the installation of a 4-kilometer submarine cable begins on Saturday, September 6, 2025.
Officials from the Biliran Electric Cooperative (Bileco), led by general manager Engr. Gerardo Oledan and the bids and awards committee (BAC), inspected the submarine cable on Tuesday, September 2, at the port of Naval to ensure compliance with project specifications.
“The purpose of today’s inspection is to check the cable’s physical appearance against the technical proposal. We double-checked the diameter, conductor size, and length to ensure everything matches the specifications,” said BAC chairman and technical manager Engr. Edrich Sacare.
The project, handled by Sub’Seatech Contracting Corporation in partnership with Fabmik Construction and Equipment Co., Inc., will link Jubay village in Calubian, Leyte to Mabini village in Higatangan Island. Though politically part of Naval town, Higatangan is geographically closer to Leyte’s mainland.
According to Sub’Seatech Technical Staff Dennis Plaza, cable laying could be finished within a day if weather conditions cooperate, while cable burial is expected to take 15 to 30 days.
Currently, Higatangan’s electricity is rationed to only eight hours daily, from 3 pm to 11 pm.
Once the submarine cable is fully operational, residents and local officials anticipate stable, round-the-clock power service—an improvement expected to boost both quality of life and economic opportunities in the island, which is steadily growing as a tourist destination.
The Higatangan Island Submarine Cable Project is part of ongoing efforts to expand power access in remote island communities and support sustainable development in Biliran province.
TACLOBAN CITY-The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the region, in partnership with Globe Telecom, conducted a digital financial literacy program and a Pugay Tagumpay ceremony for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries on September 3 at the People’s Center and Library in Tacloban City.
As part of the “e-Panalo ang Kinabukasan” initiative, 100 household-beneficiaries received new mobile phones from Globe Telecom to help them develop digital skills, manage their finances, and participate in the country’s digital financial system.
Meanwhile, 300 exiting household-beneficiaries were honored during the Pugay Tagumpay ceremony, receiving their “Sertipiko ng Pagkilala” in recognition of their improved well-being and successful completion of the 4Ps program.
The activity was attended by DSWD Assistant Secretary Elaine Fallarcuna of the Conditional Cash Transfer Group, 4Ps National Program Manager Director Gemma Gabuya, DSWD Eastern Visayas Regional Director Grace Subong, and local chief executives.
Director Subong underscored the importance of financial literacy in sustaining the gains of the program and ensuring long-term empowerment.
The event highlighted DSWD’s continuing commitment to strengthening the capacity of 4Ps beneficiaries while promoting financial inclusion across Eastern Visayas.
GHOST PROJECT? A flood control project in Hernani, Eastern Samar, is being questioned by residents and tagged as a possible “ghost project,” as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) maintains that it has not paid the contractor of the project (PHOTO: NEIL CHRISTOPHER TAN)
In Eastern Samar
GHOST PROJECT? A flood control project in Hernani, Eastern Samar, is being questioned by residents and tagged as a possible “ghost project,” as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) maintains that it has not paid the contractor of the project (PHOTO: NEIL CHRISTOPHER TAN)
TACLOBAN CITY – A P192.3-million flood control project in Hernani, Eastern Samar has come under fire from concerned citizens who alleged that the infrastructure exists largely “on paper,” despite reports of an 84.72 percent completion rate.
In a social media post on August 30 addressed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the group claimed that the project—formally titled “Construction of Flood Control Structure, Barangay Batang–Barangay Garawon, Hernani, Eastern Samar” (Contract ID: 24I00046)—was only recently mobilized.
The contract was awarded to Amethyst Horizon Builders and General Contractor and Development Corp., a firm reportedly linked to the Discaya family, which has been cited in reports for securing billions worth of public works contracts.
The complainants alleged that manpower and equipment originally intended for Hernani were instead diverted to a separate flood control project in Barangay Soong, Llorente, which has also faced public scrutiny.
“This practice is a blatant violation of government rules. Each project has its own budget, manpower, and equipment. To divert resources between projects is not only illegal, it is a betrayal of public trust,” the citizens’ letter read.
According to government records, the Hernani project has a contract cost of P192,393,616.92, with an effectivity date of April 1, 2024, and an expiry date of January 25, 2025. It is being implemented by the regional office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
In an official statement issued on Sunday, August 31, DPWH Region VIII denied reports that 80 percent of the project funds had already been released.
“Our records confirm that no such payments have been made,” the agency said.
It admitted delays in implementation but attributed these to temporary work suspensions to comply with environmental requirements and to address concerns raised by relevant authorities and stakeholders.
“These measures are vital to ensure that the projects are executed responsibly, sustainably, and with due regard for both the community and the environment,” DPWH added.
The complainants, however, rejected DPWH’s explanation, arguing that environmental safeguards should have been integrated long before implementation began.
“The rules leave no room for ambiguity: technical specifications, environmental safeguards, and the necessary permits should have been in place before a single peso from the General Appropriations Act was released. Yet here we are, confronted with a project bulldozing through a mangrove forest that should never have been ignored,” the group said, referring to the area where the project is located to have mangroves.
The citizens called on DPWH to release key project documents, including feasibility studies, preliminary and detailed engineering designs, and the project’s books of accounts, to prove transparency.
DPWH, for its part, maintained that both the Hernani and Llorente flood control projects will be completed as planned, stressing their importance in shielding Eastern Samar communities from recurring floods and natural disasters.
TACLOBAN CITY – From meteorology and disaster preparedness to food science and interactive exhibits, Leyte is positioning itself as a hub for science tourism in Eastern Visayas.
As part of this initiative, the regional office of the Department of Tourism(DOT-8), in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology(DOST-8), recently conducted an assessment of three potential science tourism sites in Tacloban City and Palo: the Eastern Visayas Science Centrum, Mary’s Leyte Deli, and the Pagasa Tacloban Synoptic Station.
The evaluation aimed to determine each site’s readiness to be integrated into a science-themed tourism circuit that would not only boost visitor arrivals but also promote public appreciation of science and innovation.
Private sector stakeholders, including tour operators from the Association of Leyte Tour Operators (ALTO) led by Ludette Ruiz, and the Eastern Visayas Association of Tour Guides (EVATG) headed by Mark Simbajon, joined the assessment to provide industry perspectives on how these destinations can be packaged into engaging visitor experiences.
At the Eastern Visayas Science Centrum, the review focused on its interactive exhibits designed to make science learning fun and accessible. At Mary’s Leyte Deli, evaluators highlighted the food science and innovation behind its culinary offerings, while the PAGASA Synoptic Station was assessed for its potential to educate visitors on weather monitoring, climate science, and disaster preparedness.
DOT-8 has been actively promoting science-related tourism packages since 2024, with other destinations already on the pipeline, including the Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining (PASAR) Corporation in Isabel, Energy Development Corporation geothermal fields in Kananga and Ormoc, and several processing centers for coffee, chocolate, jackfruit, and camote across Leyte.
Through this partnership, both agencies aim to turn science, technology, and innovation into an experiential tourism driver that connects education, culture, and local industry.
Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre joins Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Rep. Mikaela Angela B. Suansing, fellow lawmakers, and representatives from various Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) during the People’s Budget Review at Andaya Hall, House of Representatives on August 28, 2025.
Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre joins Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Rep. Mikaela Angela B. Suansing, fellow lawmakers, and representatives from various Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) during the People’s Budget Review at Andaya Hall, House of Representatives on August 28, 2025.
TACLOBAN CITY – Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre underscored the need for transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in national spending during the People’s Budget Review at the House of Representatives.
For the first time, civil society organizations (CSOs) formally joined deliberations on the 2026 National Budget, which Acidre described as a “People’s Budget.”
“The budget is not just a financial document but a reflection of our national priorities and values,” Acidre said, adding that resources must translate into “real, tangible change in people’s lives.”
He also thanked the Committee on Appropriations, chaired by Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing, for expanding spaces for citizen participation in budget deliberations.
The event gathered CSOs, advocates, and watchdogs to present proposals toward a more inclusive and responsive national budget.
