TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has expanded digital access in Eastern Samar with the launch of 81 Free WiFi sites in Borongan City, alongside the rollout of key e-governance programs aimed at strengthening digital public services and financial inclusion.

The initiative was formally launched during a ceremony at the Provincial Capitol Gym in Borongan City, where the DICT also recognized the city as a pioneer in Eastern Samar for implementing the eGov kiosk and PalengQR Plus program.

The June 23 rollout formed part of a broader inter-agency effort in partnership with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
The programs are designed to promote digital governance, encourage cashless transactions, and enhance digital literacy through training hubs for teachers, government employees, local government units, and public officials.

Governor Ralph Vincent Evardone, in his message, said the initiatives bring government services closer to residents and respond to the growing demand for digital transformation in public service delivery.

As part of the expansion, the DICT activated 81 Free WiFi sites covering all 61 barangays of Borongan City, providing residents with wider and more accessible internet connectivity.
The agency also highlighted Borongan City’s early adoption of digital solutions, noting that it was the first local government unit in Eastern Samar to implement the PalengQR Plus system in March 2025, encouraging cashless transactions among market vendors and consumers.

Later in the same year, an eGov kiosk was installed at the Borongan City Hall lobby, allowing residents to access government services electronically and reducing the need for in-person transactions—part of the modernization push of Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda, who has prioritized digital innovation in local governance.

Borongan City is also recognized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as a Smart City, one of only two local government units in Eastern Visayas with the distinction, alongside Ormoc City.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Education and police authorities in Northern Samar and Leyte have stepped up security measures in schools following circulating social media posts containing alleged threats, coming days after the deadly June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City that killed three students and injured 20 others.

The incident has heightened public concern over school safety across Eastern Visayas, prompting local authorities to intensify monitoring, validate online reports, and strengthen coordination with school officials and law enforcement agencies.

In Allen, Northern Samar, the Allen Municipal Police Station (MPS) immediately coordinated with the administration of Allen National High School after receiving information about a social media post claiming a possible threat within the school campus.

Allen MPS Acting Chief of Police, Police Captain Verna Cesista, said police conducted validation and worked closely with school principal Reynaldo Banjawan to assess the credibility of the report.

Authorities later confirmed that no imminent threat was found against students, teachers, or school personnel, and assured the public that the school remains safe. However, police said they will maintain heightened monitoring and visibility within and around the campus as a precautionary measure.

The Allen MPS also reminded the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities directly to authorities, warning that the spread of false information and the posting of threats on social media may lead to legal consequences.

Meanwhile, the Schools Division of Leyte issued a similar advisory after unverified online posts claimed that Palo National High School and Palo I Central School could be potential targets of violence following the Tacloban shooting incident.

While the division stressed that there is no confirmed or validated information supporting the alleged threats, it said all reports involving school security are being treated with utmost seriousness.

As part of its response, the Schools Division requested assistance from the Palo Municipal Police Station to increase police visibility in both schools, coordinated with barangay officials to strengthen community-based security efforts, and sought the support of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to help trace the source of the circulating messages and verify their authenticity.

School administrators were also directed to strictly enforce campus security protocols, regulate entry and exit points, monitor school grounds, and immediately report suspicious activities to authorities.

The division acknowledged limited security personnel in some schools but assured that coordination with local government units and partner agencies is ongoing to reinforce protective measures.

Both the Allen MPS and the Schools Division of Leyte urged the public to remain calm, avoid sharing unverified information, and promptly report credible threats to proper authorities to prevent panic and misinformation in communities.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Eastern Visayas (DSWD-8) has stressed that the fate of the two minors linked to the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School, which killed three students and injured 20 others, rests entirely with the court.

DSWD-8 Regional Director Grace Subong said the agency’s role is limited to rehabilitation, psychological assessment, and submission of recommendations, but not the decision to release or detain the children in conflict with the law (CICL).

“Wala sa aming authority na palabasin siya or not because it is always the court’s decision,” Subong said.

She explained that social workers are tasked with evaluating the minors’ behavioral and psychological condition to determine whether they are responding positively to rehabilitation programs.

“The role of the social worker and the DSWD is to look into his state of thinking and behavior and determine if he is responding to rehabilitation. We only submit our recommendations to the court,” she added.

Subong also clarified that admission to a rehabilitation facility does not automatically guarantee a return to community life, noting that outcomes depend on continuous assessment.

“In some cases, we have even recommended that a child be transferred to jail if rehabilitation is not successful,” she said.

She added that the older of the two suspects may be transferred to a regular jail facility upon reaching the age of majority if rehabilitation efforts fail.

For the younger suspect, aged 14 and exempt from criminal liability under Republic Act No. 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, Subong said he may remain at the Regional Rehabilitation Center for the Youth (RRCY) in Tanauan, Leyte until he demonstrates meaningful behavioral reform.

“Kung hindi pa rin siya magbago, hanggang sa kanyang pagtanda doon siya sa RRCY… Hangga’t hindi siya mareform o marehabilitate, mananatili siya sa facility,” she said.
DSWD-8 Legal Unit Head Atty. Jonalyndie Chua explained that although the younger suspect is exempt from criminal liability, he remains under a court-supervised diversion program.

“Since the crime committed carries a penalty of more than six years, the diversion will be implemented by the court,” Chua said, adding that the program functions as a binding agreement between the court and the child outlining required conditions for reform.
Chua emphasized that exemption from criminal liability does not mean absence of responsibility.

“Hindi ibig sabihin na dahil 14 years old siya ay wala na siyang pananagutan,” she said.
The two minors are currently under strict supervision at the DSWD-managed Regional Rehabilitation Center for the Youth (RRCY) in Tanauan, Leyte, where they are prohibited from leaving the facility or accessing mobile phones, the internet, television, and outside communication except through assigned social workers and house parents.

Authorities said the restrictions are part of an intensive rehabilitation and assessment program while legal proceedings continue.

(ROEL T.AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-8) has intensified its inspection drive on major construction projects in Ormoc City and Northern Samar to ensure strict compliance with labor laws and occupational safety and health (OSH) standards.

The two-day High Impact High Visibility Inspection (HIHVI) conducted on June 22–23 forms part of the government’s strengthened campaign to safeguard workers’ welfare and promote safe and decent workplaces, in line with directives to strictly enforce labor standards nationwide.

In Northern Samar, the DOLE-Northern Samar Field Office inspected selected construction sites in Catarman to assess compliance with labor regulations and workplace safety requirements.

The inspection team, led by Provincial Head Engr. Primo Guarin, was joined by representatives from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and the Philippine National Police in Catarman. Prior to the field inspection, participating agencies held a coordination meeting to align enforcement strategies and strengthen inter-agency collaboration.

In Ormoc City, the DOLE-West Leyte Field Office, together with partner agencies, inspected six ongoing construction projects inside the compound of a large energy firm.

The Ormoc inspection team was led by Engr. Joseph Niño Pey of DOLE Regional Office VIII and Darwinda Labastida of DOLE-West Leyte Field Office, with support from personnel headed by Rosilito Ygaña. They were joined by representatives from the Energy Development Corporation, Bureau of Fire Protection, Office of the Building Official, Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and the Pag-IBIG Fund.

Across both sites, labor inspectors evaluated compliance with key labor and safety requirements, including the provision and proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), installation of safety signage, emergency preparedness measures, and adherence to minimum wage and other statutory labor benefits.

Employers and workers were also engaged in on-site dialogues, where inspectors provided guidance on correcting identified deficiencies and emphasized preventive measures to avoid workplace accidents and occupational hazards.

In Ormoc, partner agencies also conducted information sessions on workers’ social protection and regulatory compliance. The SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG Fund briefed workers on benefits and coverage, while the BFP and Office of the Building Official discussed fire safety standards and construction regulations. Workers were likewise given the opportunity to raise concerns regarding their benefits and entitlements.

DOLE-8 said the continuing inspections reflect its commitment to uphold workers’ rights, promote safe working conditions, and strengthen cooperation among government agencies and employers in ensuring compliance with labor and safety standards.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)