TACLOBAN CITY– The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte Second District Engineering Office (L2DEO) has completed a preventive maintenance project on its primary road along a stretch of the Palo-Carigara-Ormoc road, particularly in Tunga town.
The project has a total allocation of P44.43 million which includes the removal of the existing asphalt overlay and its replacement with new asphalt layer to restore and the strengthen roadway spanning a total length of 0.94 kilometers. It also involves the intermittent reblocking of damaged sections of the Portland Cement Concrete Pavement (PCCP),particularly along the road and bridge approaches in Naliwatan and Tunga.
In addition, thermoplastic pavement markings are installed to enhance traffic safety, especially during night time travel.

District Engineer Leo Edward L. Oppura said that the project enhancement along Palo-Carigara-Ormoc Road serves as a vital access route linking several municipalities and supporting daily transport of people, products, and services, as it is considered one of the busiest roads in the region.

He added that preventing the road structure from developing hazardous conditions such as potholes, cracks, and uneven surfaces will lessen accidents and injuries.

The completed road works will provide long-term benefits to road users by improving driving comfort and reducing travel time and vehicle maintenance costs, and they can expect safe and smooth travel along the road network in Tunga.

Funded under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), through the Asset Preservation Program under Preventive Maintenance of Primary Roads, the project was commenced on March 21, 2025, with 100% reported work accomplishment.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY– Three committees of the Leyte Sangguniang Panlalawigan will jointly investigate the reported disposal of hazardous medical waste transported from Mandaue City, Cebu to a treatment facility in Isabel town, Leyte citing environmental and health concerns.

The committees on environment and natural resources, health, and disaster risk reduction will lead the inquiry following concerns raised by Leyte 5th district Board Member Atty. Carlo Loreto during the inaugural session of the provincial board.

“We need to protect our province. Leyte is where we live—where our children go to school, where we eat and sleep. That is why we must ensure our environment and communities are safe,” he said.

Loreto emphasized that medical waste generated outside the province should not be dumped or treated within Leyte, and called for accountability among those involved.
The investigation will include summoning officials from Cleanaway Philippines Inc., the company operating the treatment facility inside the Leyte Industrial Development Estate (LIDE) in Isabel, as well as representatives from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“We are demanding full cooperation from all agencies, including the EMB. If they refuse to cooperate, we will be constrained to file the necessary civil, criminal, and administrative cases,” Loreto warned.

In addition to the joint hearing, Loreto also filed a resolution urging that any medical waste already transported from Mandaue to Isabel be returned to its point of origin.

Initial reports received by the provincial board indicated that several drums of medical waste from Mandaue have already arrived at Cleanaway’s facility. The shipments are said to be part of more than 300 drums containing potentially hazardous materials such as used syringes, blood-soaked bandages, broken fluorescent lamps, chemical containers, and other infectious waste.

Cleanaway Philippines Inc. explained that the waste undergoes autoclaving—a sterilization process using high-pressure steam to kill pathogens—before final disposal in its secured landfill within LIDE. The company added that its Isabel facility serves multiple clients across the Visayas region.

The issue has sparked concern among local officials and environmental advocates, who are calling for stricter oversight and clearer policies on the cross-border transport of hazardous waste.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – Local officials in two remote Samar Island municipalities expressed gratitude for being included in the latest deployment under the Department of Health’s (DOH) Doctors to the Barrio (DTTB) Program, which aims to address the persistent shortage of medical professionals in underserved communities.

At least 14 newly deployed DTTB physicians have been assigned across Eastern Visayas, including the towns of Liloan and Anahawan in Southern Leyte; Palompon, Palo, Calubian, Mahaplag, Burauen, Bato, and Babatngon in Leyte; Naval in Biliran; Motiong and Matuguinao in Samar; Arteche in Eastern Samar; and Silvino Lobos in Northern Samar.
Some of these areas, such as Matuguinao and Arteche, have been without municipal health officers (MHOs) due to the lack of applicants or recent retirements.

Matuguinao Mayor Aran Boller welcomed the deployment of a new doctor to his town, which is categorized as a Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Area (GIDA). The municipality, with a population of just over 6,300, has long struggled with limited access to healthcare.

“We are deeply grateful to the national government, especially the DOH, for addressing the healthcare needs of Matuguinao. Being a GIDA and conflict-affected area, the presence of a doctor is crucial,” Boller said in a phone interview.

This is the third time a DTTB physician has been assigned to Matuguinao since Boller became mayor. He emphasized the importance of community visits, which the assigned doctor conducts alongside nurses and midwives to reach remote barangays.

The local government also ensures the safety of health personnel, especially in areas previously influenced by insurgent groups, and provides allowances and other support as part of their local counterpart to the program.

In Arteche, Eastern Samar, Vice Mayor Roland Boie Evardone also expressed appreciation for the DOH’s timely response to their request for a doctor. The town lost its previous MHO in March 2024 due to retirement and has since struggled to fill the post.
Although Arteche is located along the national highway, it still has six barangays classified as GIDA.

“This deployment is a big help to our people, especially in delivering vital health services to the Artechehanons,” Evardone said, adding that he initially filed the request for a DTTB physician while still serving as mayor.

For 2025, a total of 74 DTTB doctors have been assigned to different municipalities in Eastern Visayas to augment the delivery of primary healthcare, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

The Doctors to the Barrio Program, launched in 1993, continues to serve as a lifeline for many isolated towns that otherwise have little or no access to licensed physicians.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – Health authorities have issued a precautionary red tide warning in parts of Eastern Samar and Samar provinces after shellfish samples tested positive for toxic red tide organisms, according to a July 14 advisory from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

Confirmatory tests conducted by the BFAR-National Fisheries Laboratory Division revealed that shellfish meat samples collected from Matarinao Bay—which spans the municipalities of General MacArthur, Quinapondan, Hernani, and Salcedo in Eastern Samar—were found positive for paralytic shellfish toxin (saxitoxin).

Likewise, filtered seawater samples from Irong-Irong Bay in Catbalogan City, Samar also tested positive for Pyrodinium bahamense, a species of toxic dinoflagellate that causes red tide and produces the same harmful saxitoxin.

As a precautionary measure, BFAR has advised the public to refrain from gathering, selling, or consuming all types of shellfish and “Alamang” or “Hipon” (small shrimp, Acetes sp.) from the affected bays to avoid possible cases of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP). PSP can cause severe symptoms including numbness, dizziness, and in extreme cases, respiratory paralysis.

While the national shellfish bulletin is still pending issuance, the early advisory was released to safeguard lives and allow local government units (LGUs) to act swiftly.
BFAR emphasized, however, that fish, squid, crabs, and shrimp from these waters remain safe to eat provided they are fresh, thoroughly cleaned, and entrails removed before cooking.

The fisheries bureau has intensified monitoring of the affected bays and urged LGUs to take the necessary steps to inform and protect their constituents. The advisory also reminded local officials of their obligation under Section 16 of Republic Act 7160 (Local Government Code of 1991) to uphold the health and safety of residents.

Red tide outbreaks are naturally occurring phenomena caused by harmful algal blooms, which tend to intensify due to favorable weather and water conditions. In the Philippines, they have become recurring threats to coastal communities whose livelihoods depend heavily on shellfish harvesting.

BFAR said it will continue to conduct regular sampling and will issue updates as new test results become available.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)