NSSDEO, Brgy. Burabud, Laoang, Northern Samar – Through the Department of Public Works and Highways Northern Samar Second District Engineering Office (DPWH-NSSDEO), road users are now guaranteed and ensured to the recently completed retrofitting and strengthening of Camparanga Bridge located in Brgy. Camparanga, Pambujan, Northern Samar, providing safe and more convenient transportation access for the travelling public.
The Retrofitting/Strengthening of Camparanga Bridge project was under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2024, intended for the retrofitting/strengthening of permanent bridge with a length of 39.60 linear meter, to avoid further deterioration of the concrete structures.

OIC-District Engineer Atty. Arthur Eric L. Sabong cited that the said bridge is an essential infrastructure for economic development of the locality because it serves as a vital link along Catarman to Laoang road network. He also added that the bridge needs to be retrofitted, for the security of the motorists and commuters as well as not to hinder the movement of business trade and transactions.

In addition, retrofitting of bridge structures is designed to upgrade and enhance existing structures, making it sturdier and firmer to withstand against any disasters. Besides, this bridge infrastructure is an essential bridge in the Second District of Northern Samar since it directly links by land travel the municipalities of Pambujan and Laoang, which is also a route of the road users from Catarman leading to the coastal towns of the Pacific Area.
The rehabilitation activities began on December, 2024, and set to be completed on April, 2025, but the rehabilitation work was completed ahead of its completion schedule on January, 2025. Thus, retrofitted bridge now improves the mobility of the travelling public.
(dpwh8/nssdeo/rnl/jmp)

TACLOBAN CITY – Tingog party-list Representative and EDCOM 2 Commissioner Jude Acidre is calling for immediate and comprehensive reforms in the country’s education sector, warning that the worsening learning crisis threatens both public and private institutions, including Catholic schools that serve marginalized communities.

Speaking at the Diocese of Cubao Educational System General Assembly, Acidre presented the Year 2 Report of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), outlining critical findings and urgent recommendations.

“The learning crisis is real, and it is deepening,” Acidre said. “We must prioritize foundational learning, invest in our teachers, and address educational inequalities that leave too many learners behind.”

He stressed that the crisis is not exclusive to public schools. “Even Catholic institutions serving low-income communities are affected,” he noted, emphasizing the need for both the public and private sectors to work together to expand access and improve educational outcomes.

Among the key reforms Acidre championed are sustained and strategic investment in teacher training and mentorship; creating supportive teaching communities to revive the vocation and passion in education; and designing long-term solutions through the national education plan currently being crafted by EDCOM 2

Quoting Psalm 127, Acidre grounded the call for reform in a deeper moral and spiritual responsibility, urging educators and leaders to form future generations who will not only succeed but serve and lead with faith and purpose.

“We are not just building minds—we are forming hearts and spirits,” he added.
The report presented by Acidre is part of a multi-year effort by EDCOM 2 to guide transformative policy changes in the Philippine education system through evidence-based research and inclusive dialogue with stakeholders.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY-Truck drivers stranded for over a week at Amandayehan Port in Basey, Samar are pinning their hopes on the successful start of operations by Santa Clara Shipping Corporation to finally reach Tacloban City.Hundreds of truckers from Luzon, lured by social media posts about the expected resumption of barge services across the San Juanico Strait, have been stuck at the port in Amandayehan village. Upon arrival, they discovered that operations had yet to begin, leaving them stranded with mounting daily expenses and delayed deliveries.

Jonathan De Borja, a driver delivering biscuits to a Tacloban shopping mall, expressed frustration as he watched his earnings dwindle while waiting at the port. He appealed to government agencies to expedite improvement works at the wharf following the successful trial docking of the LCT Adian Dowey on May 21.

“I hope the government hears the cries of drivers. Our families think we’re still earning, but our wages are being spent just to survive here,” he said in a Filipino.

He added: “The government should listen to drivers, not just make empty promises.”
Vinzon Alegan, another stranded driver en route to Zamboanga from Subic, acknowledged the efforts of local officials and government agencies who have provided food and basic assistance. However, he emphasized that enabling them to cross to Leyte is the most meaningful support they need.

“Authorities must work together to get us across. We’ve been delayed here for far too long,” he said, also in Filipino.

Alegan added that their prolonged stay is eating into their income and affecting their ability to support their families: “Some aid is being given, but our earnings are shrinking. How can we buy school needs for our children with classes about to start?”

During the trial docking, Santa Clara Shipping Corporation representative Joseph Go confirmed that Amandayehan Port is viable for their operations. However, he noted that improvements—such as reinforcing the ramp for smoother truck loading and unloading—are still needed.

Go said they are awaiting certification from the Philippine Ports Authority and the Maritime Industry Authority to begin full operations as soon as wharf upgrades are completed.
Amandayehan Port is a local government-run facility primarily used as a fish landing site. It previously served as a barge docking area during the rehabilitation of the San Juanico Bridge in the early 1990s.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)