TACLOBAN CITY – The National Food Authority (NFA) is constructing a modern warehouse facility in Leyte province to support the national buffer stocking program, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to boost local farmers’ productivity.

The warehouse is located within the NFA Eastern Visayas compound in Alangalang town, with construction expected to be completed within eight months.

The groundbreaking ceremony, held on April 25, Friday, was led by NFA Acting Deputy Administrator John Robert Hermano, together with Regional Manager May Sara Sabarre, and Alangalang Mayor Lovely Yu-Castro, among others.

The government allocated around P550 million for the project, with more than P118 million allotted for the construction of the warehouse and the rest for the purchase of equipment.
Hermano said that once completed, the facility will be a major boost to local rice farmers, addressing the long-standing lack of post-harvest facilities in the province.

The warehouse will have a drying capacity of about 400,000 bags annually and a milling capacity of about 500,000 bags per year.

“Our rice production is high, but our main challenge is the lack of post-harvest facilities, especially dryers… This post-harvest facility addresses the weakest link in our rice production chain. Very few invest in this area, except for the government,” Hermano said.

Hermano added that aside from Alangalang, the NFA is also constructing a similar warehouse in Oras, Eastern Samar, where a groundbreaking was held last month.

He further shared that similar facilities are planned for other areas in the region, including Catbalogan City, Biliran, Southern Leyte, Ormoc City, Laoang, and parts of eastern Leyte, to ensure that all major rice production areas in Eastern Visayas are covered.

With the increase in the volume of palay (unhusked rice) procured by the NFA in the region—from 80,000 bags previously to about 250,000 bags—Hermano emphasized the need for larger and more modern facilities.

“Because of this, we truly need a higher-capacity rice mill. First, to absorb farmers’ deliveries even during rainy days, and second, to improve the quality of our palay and consequently the quality of NFA rice,” he said.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

ORMOC CITY– A lineman from a local telecom company was arrested during a buy-bust operation conducted by the Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) of Police Station 4 (PS4) of the Ormoc City Police Office (OCPO) early Sunday morning, April 27, in Purok 7, Brgy. Linao, this city.

PS4 Chief PCpt. Jason Mateo identified the suspect as alias “Raul,” 53, married, and a resident of Brgy. Linao.

During the operation, police recovered one sachet of white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu, purchased by an operative for P500, weighing approximately 0.10 grams. A subsequent body search led to the discovery of three more sachets containing the same substance, weighing a total of 0.93 grams. Additionally, a P500 bill, marked for use in the operation, was found in the suspect’s possession.

The suspect admitted to owning the illegal drugs, citing his addiction as the reason for both using and selling the drugs.

The total weight of the confiscated shabu was approximately 1.03 grams, with an estimated street value of P7,000.

The suspect was informed of his rights and has been charged with violations of Sections 5 (selling illegal drugs) and 11 (possession of illegal drugs) of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

He is currently detained at the PS4 detention facility in Brgy. Linao.

(ROBERT DEJON)

In Eastern Samar

TACLOBAN CITY — Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone is urging for the expedited opening of the Felipe Abrigo Memorial Hospital, a key healthcare facility aimed at addressing the increasing medical needs of residents in southern part of the province.
In a meeting with the provincial government team and partners from the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Gov. Evardone emphasized the urgency of completing the hospital’s construction, highlighting the growing demand for healthcare services in the region.

The hospital, located in the town of Guiuan, is expected to provide vital medical care to residents who currently face limited access to healthcare services.

“There’s been some delay already, but many factors, including power supply issues, are beyond our control,” Governor Evardone stated as quoted by the Eastern Samar Provincial Information Office on Monday, April 28.

The governor referred to ongoing problems with the provincial power supply, such as low voltage during peak hours, which have impacted the project’s completion. To resolve this, the provincial government has allocated additional funding for generators to ensure a steady power supply for the hospital.

“We have no other option; we have to rely on generators,” Gov. Evardone said.
In addition to addressing infrastructure concerns, Gov. Evardone expressed his appreciation to the KOICA team for their ongoing project monitoring and the upcoming donation of medical equipment, which will help ensure the hospital’s readiness once operational.
The Felipe Abrigo Memorial Hospital is one of several healthcare facilities under the provincial government’s administration.

Other notable hospitals include the Eastern Samar Provincial Hospital and the Borongan District Hospital, both of which provide essential services to the people of Eastern Samar.
These hospitals play a critical role in supporting the province’s healthcare system, and the opening of the Felipe Abrigo Memorial Hospital is expected to significantly alleviate the pressure on existing facilities.

Gov. Evardone also acknowledged the collective efforts of the provincial government and its partners in seeing the project through to completion, stressing that the hospital will be a vital addition to the region’s healthcare infrastructure.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY – At least 18 amnesty applications filed with the Local Amnesty Board (LAB) in Catbalogan City are being finalized for resolution and endorsement to the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) Executive Committee and the Office of the President for approval.

Another 25 applications are currently under review, while seven are undergoing further validation.

A marathon case conference was recently conducted by members of LAB Catbalogan to thoroughly examine the documents and personal narratives submitted by the applicants.
Amnesty applicants were present during the validation proceedings.

The LAB Catbalogan members are scheduled to hold another validation conference today, Monday, April 28, and tomorrow, April 29.

The government’s amnesty program offers former rebels the opportunity to reintegrate into society, promoting healing, reconciliation, and ensuring due process and protection under the law.

Under Proclamation No. 404, amnesty extinguishes the criminal liability of former New People’s Army (NPA) members, except for those involved in crimes such as human trafficking, rape, child abuse, and sexual assault, who are ineligible to apply.

Since the creation of the local amnesty board, a total of 378 former rebels from the Samar provinces have submitted their amnesty applications between December 2024 and April 2025.

The number of applicants is expected to rise as outreach activities continue, led by LAB Catbalogan in partnership with various government agencies, including the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), Department of Justice – National Prosecution Service, Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines 8th Infantry Division (AFP-8ID), and the Provincial Government of Samar.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications before the program deadline on March 23, 2026.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)