TACLOBAN CITY — Key lawmakers visited the Eastern Visayas Medical Center on March 21, reaffirming support for its ongoing modernization and expansion projects.
Reps. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Jude Acidre of Tingog party-list led the inspection, which was hosted by hospital officials headed by Medical Center Chief Dr. Joseph Michael Jaro.

During the visit, the solons toured key facility upgrades, including the emergency room, intensive care units, operating rooms, and post-anesthesia care unit, as part of efforts to transform EVMC into a Level III hospital.

Hospital officials said the improvements aim to boost capacity and enhance patient care services for communities across Eastern Visayas, with support from the Department of Health and partner lawmakers.

Jaro said more development projects are in the pipeline to further strengthen the hospital’s services.

The visit highlighted continued collaboration between national leaders and health officials to improve access to quality healthcare in the region.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY — About 160 patients from different towns in Northern Samar received free medical and surgical services during a two-day outreach mission organized by the World Surgical Foundation Philippines in partnership with the provincial government.
Held in coordination with the Northern Samar Provincial Hospital, the mission carried out 138 surgical procedures, including 54 major operations, 69 minor procedures, and 15 arteriovenous fistula surgeries.

Patients were treated for various conditions such as thyroid disorders, tumors, hernia, hemorrhoids, infections, gallbladder inflammation, and congenital diseases like Hirschsprung’s disease. All beneficiaries were also provided with free medicines for post-operative care.

The medical mission brought together specialists from the Philippine College of Surgeons, Philippine Society of Anesthesiologists, and the Operating Room Nurses Association of the Philippines, along with local health workers.

Before the activity concluded on March 20, medical teams conducted post-operative rounds, monitored recovery, and instructed families on proper wound care and medication management. Some patients were discharged, while others remained under hospital observation.

Governor Harris Christopher Ongchuan expressed gratitude to the medical teams for their service, saying the mission provided life-changing healthcare to residents in need.
Hospital officials said patients who were not accommodated during the mission will be scheduled for follow-up surgeries in the coming weeks.

The provincial government said it aims to continue similar partnerships to further expand access to specialized healthcare services in Northern Samar.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Thousands of families affected by Typhoon ‘Tino’ in Eastern Visayas have received financial assistance as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues its Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) rollout across the region.

As of the latest data, Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office VIII has distributed P53.9 million in aid to 10,060 beneficiaries from six local government units.
The initial distribution covered the municipalities of Abuyog, Matag-ob, and MacArthur in Leyte, as well as Salcedo, Borongan, and Guiuan in Eastern Samar.

Additional payouts are scheduled in the coming days in other affected areas, including Merida, Ormoc City, Tanauan, Mahaplag, and Isabel.

The ECT program provides immediate financial support to families whose homes were damaged or destroyed by disasters, helping them meet urgent needs and begin recovery efforts.

DSWD-8 said its personnel remain deployed on the ground and are closely coordinating with local government units to ensure orderly and timely distribution of assistance.
Officials assured that the payout will continue until all eligible Typhoon Tino-affected families have received aid.

Tino struck Eastern Visayas in November 2025, making landfall in Silago, Southern Leyte, and triggering widespread flooding and landslides that damaged infrastructure and homes, including 2,680 partially damaged and 212 totally damaged houses across the region.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Residents of a remote village on Homonhon Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar can now access safe and reliable water following the completion of a long-awaited community water supply project.

The new system, inaugurated in Barangay Casuguran, addresses years of water scarcity where families relied on shallow wells or bought water transported from the mainland.
Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan said the project marks a significant step in improving living conditions, particularly for the barangay’s roughly 300 residents.

“This is not just about infrastructure—it is about dignity and better quality of life for our people,” she said, noting that access to clean water is essential to health and daily needs.
The facility is a Level II water system that distributes potable water through communal tap stands. It includes a 60,000-liter dam, an ultra-filtration unit capable of processing 10 cubic meters per hour, a 10,000-liter storage tank, and a 5-kilometer pipeline network connecting multiple access points across the village.

Barangay Casuguran is the first site under the larger Homonhon Island Water Supply System Project, which is set to expand to seven more barangays.

The project was implemented through a partnership involving the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Water Resources Management Office, the Guiuan Water District, and several mining firms operating on the island under their social development programs.

Officials said the initiative is expected to improve sanitation, reduce health risks, and ease the burden on residents who previously spent time and money securing water.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)