TACLOBAN CITY – The Leyte Provincial Police Office (LPPO) reported a significant decline in eight focus crime categories in the province during January 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
According to data from the Crime Information, Reporting, and Analysis System (CIRAS) as of February 4, 2025, crime incidents dropped from 36 cases in January 2024 to 24 cases in January 2025, reflecting a decrease of 12 incidents.
The most notable reductions were recorded in the following crime categories: murder – 40% decrease; physical injury – 64% decrease; robbery – 60% decrease; and rape – 83% decrease.
LPPO Provincial Director Police Colonel Dionisio Apas Jr. credited the proactive efforts of law enforcement and community collaboration for the decline in crime.
“These results highlight the effectiveness of the office’s proactive policing and strong community engagement,” he said.
“This significant decrease showcases the dedication and hard work of the Leyte Police. Our commitment to strategic crime prevention and enhanced reporting measures has enabled us to address specific challenges more effectively,” Apas added.
With this progress, Apas assured the public that the Leyte police remain committed to maintaining these positive gains through intensified crime prevention and control efforts.
He also urged residents to support law enforcement by providing timely and accurate information to help police respond more effectively to criminal activities and apprehend individuals engaged in illegal acts.
TINGOG ASSISTANCE. Ordinary people can trust and rely on the various help being offered by Tingog party-list group. During the three-day Tingog summit that is to end Saturday, Feb.8, Tingog beneficiaries made testimonies on the assistance they have received. (TINGOG CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
TINGOG ASSISTANCE. Ordinary people can trust and rely on the various help being offered by Tingog party-list group. During the three-day Tingog summit that is to end Saturday, Feb.8, Tingog beneficiaries made testimonies on the assistance they have received. (TINGOG CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Tingog Centers, established by the Tingog party-list in various parts of the country, have been a significant source of aid for those in dire need.
This was highlighted by Center Managers interviewed during the Serbisyong Tingog Center talk on the first day of the three-day National Tingog Summit 2025 in Palo.
According to the managers, the centers provide essential services to people who struggle to meet their basic needs, particularly those with medical concerns.
“After being discharged from the hospital, we provide free medicine,” shared Bai Lorna Ayunan Ebrahim, the Tingog Center Manager in Cotabato City.
The Cotabato center is able to offer such services through partnerships with pharmacies, enabling quicker access to medicines, especially for emergency treatments such as dialysis and cancer medications.
“They are very grateful because the Tingog Partylist in Cotabato is truly helping them,” she added.
Aside from offering free medicines and assisting patients with medical needs during hospital stays, the Cotabato center has also partnered with a hospital to ensure the availability of blood during emergencies.
The center managers emphasized that they do not discriminate when providing assistance, helping anyone in need, regardless of their socio-economic status.
“Because of Tingog, even those who are employed can seek help. When people get sick, no one tells them, ‘You’re a teacher, you can’t get sick, you can’t ask for help.’ They wouldn’t ask for assistance unless it’s really necessary. Just because someone is a professional doesn’t mean they have enough funds to cover the costs of serious illnesses,” shared Jackie Maceda, Tingog Center Manager in Maasin City.
From its humble beginnings with 123 centers, the Tingog Partylist now operates 210 centers across the Philippines, providing not only medical assistance but also financial support and burial assistance to those in need.
“The Tingog Centers are more than just offices; they represent our care and compassion. Through our Tingog Centers, a mother with a sick child no longer has to borrow money for hospital bills. A student aspiring to graduate can receive educational assistance. A father struggling financially can now afford the medication he needs,” said Tingog Partylist Representative Jude Acidre during the opening of the summit.
The summit, which runs for three days, is attended by around 500 Tingog officials, staff, and volunteers from various regions of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
TACLOBAN CITY – Tingog Party-list Representatives Yedda Romualdez and Jude Acidre reaffirmed their commitment to uplifting Filipino workers while supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as the House of Representatives approved House Bill No. 11376, or the “Wage Hike for Minimum Wage Workers Act,” on second reading.
The bill proposes a P200 daily wage increase for all minimum wage earners in the private sector, including those under contractual and sub-contractual arrangements in both agricultural and non-agricultural sectors.
However, to ease the burden on small businesses, the measure retains key exemptions and provides government-backed incentives to help MSMEs adjust to the wage hike.
Rep. Acidre emphasized that the bill strikes a balance between fair wages and business sustainability. Speaking to IBC 13, he explained:
“Klaro po sa panukalang batas na magkakaroon ng exemption. Una, ang may exemption po ay ‘yung mga enterprises na rehistrado sa ilalim ng Barangay Micro Business Enterprises Act. Pangalawa, ‘yung mga negosyo na may sampung empleyado pababa. At pangatlo, ‘yung mga negosyo sa mga lugar na nasalanta ng disaster at bagyo.”
Under Republic Act No. 9178, or the Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs) Act of 2002, BMBEs are exempt from the Minimum Wage Law.
Additionally, retail and service businesses with 10 or fewer employees, as well as those in disaster-affected areas, may qualify for exemptions under Republic Act No. 6727, also known as the Wage Rationalization Act.
To assist small enterprises in implementing the wage adjustment, the bill mandates financial and technical incentives through the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
“We recognize that some businesses may need support, which is why DOLE will provide incentives to help ease the transition,” Acidre added.
For her part, Rep. Yedda Romualdez emphasized Tingog’s commitment to policies that balance the needs of both workers and businesses.
“This wage increase is a crucial step toward ensuring that our workers receive just compensation while also considering the realities faced by small businesses. We want a strong, sustainable economy where every Filipino—whether worker or business owner—can thrive.”
Acidre credited Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez for prioritizing the concerns of workers and ensuring the bill’s swift progress in Congress. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
NFA STOCK. The National Food Authority(NFA) in the region is ready to download its rice stock to help neutralize the increasing rice prices in the market. Photo shows an NFA warehouse in Alangalang, Leyte showing its rice stock.
(PIA-EASTERN VISAYAS)
Aims to lower rice prices in the markets to lower rice prices in the market
NFA STOCK. The National Food Authority(NFA) in the region is ready to download its rice stock to help neutralize the increasing rice prices in the market. Photo shows an NFA warehouse in Alangalang, Leyte showing its rice stock. (PIA-EASTERN VISAYAS)
PALO,Leyte– The National Food Authority (NFA) in Eastern Visayas is set to sell 18,000 bags of rice to various local government units (LGUs) as part of the government’s food security emergency on rice program.
NFA Regional Manager May Sara Sabarre emphasized that LGUs participating in the program are strictly prohibited from using the rice for political purposes and must ensure it reaches the public at affordable prices.
While Eastern Visayas was not initially included in the pilot areas for the program, the NFA central office directed the region to implement the initiative starting February 15.
“So far, the local government units of Ormoc City, Baybay City, and Leyte province, along with some areas in Samar province, have expressed their intent to procure rice from NFA,” Sabarre said in an interview on Tuesday, February 4.
The following LGUs have committed to purchasing NFA rice were Ormoc City, Baybay City, and Leyte province at 3,000 bags each; and Samar province, including Catbalogan City and Calbayog City with total of 9,000 bags
The program will run for three months, aiming to help stabilize rice prices amid rising costs in the market.
The Marcos administration launched the food security emergency on rice program in response to soaring rice prices, ensuring that Filipinos have access to affordable rice. The initiative allows NFA to sell rice stocks to LGUs at a lower cost compared to commercial market prices.
“Under the agreement, LGUs are mandated to sell the rice to the general public to help regulate market prices and prevent political misuse,” Sabarre stressed.
With the May 12, 2025, general elections approaching, the directive aims to prevent rice distribution from being used for political gain.
Participating LGUs are required to sell NFA rice at P38 per kilogram, significantly lower than commercial rice, which can reach up to P58 per kilogram, depending on the variety.
The NFA in Eastern Visayas currently has 18,000 bags of rice available, along with 82,000 bags of unmilled palay, which, once milled, will produce over 72,000 bags of rice.
For 2025, the NFA aims to procure over 250,000 bags of palay from local farmers.
Last year, the agency exceeded its procurement target by acquiring 138,080 bags of palay, surpassing the initial goal of 110,000 bags.
NFA buys palay at P25 per kilogram if wet and P30 per kilogram, if dry.
CRUISE TOURISM. Eastern Visayas continues to shine as a premier cruise destination, as the MS Europa 2 returned for a visit to the famed Kalanggaman Island in Palompon, Leyte on Saturday, Feb. 1 with more than 400 Germans on board. (LGU PALOMPON)
Part of DOT’s cruise tourism campaign
CRUISE TOURISM. Eastern Visayas continues to shine as a premier cruise destination, as the MS Europa 2 returned for a visit to the famed Kalanggaman Island in Palompon, Leyte on Saturday, Feb. 1 with more than 400 Germans on board. (LGU PALOMPON)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Tourism (DOT) in the region has announced that at least three cruise ships are expected to visit Eastern Visayas this year, marking a promising start for cruise tourism in the area.
The first ship, MS Europa 2, arrived on Saturday, February 1, visiting Kalanggaman Island in Leyte. The luxury ship, which carried 490 German guests, was followed by two other cruise ships: the Heritage Adventurer and the Coral Geographer, which will also make stops in the region later this year.
Despite the relatively small number of ships, DOT-8 Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes expressed excitement over the growing number of cruise destinations in Eastern Visayas.
“While the number of cruise ships may not be large, we are thrilled because more places are now on the map. New cruise destinations will be added to our list this year,” Tiopes said in an earlier interview.
Tiopes highlighted that the focus on expedition cruises helps promote lesser-known destinations in the region, attracting both domestic and international tourists.
“Cruise ships visiting less-traveled spots will introduce new areas to the public, encouraging travelers to explore and experience the unique culture and traditions of Eastern Visayas,” she said.
She added that these cruises serve as an important way to showcase the region’s untapped potential. “One reason we’re focusing on expedition cruises is that they help us attract visitors, whether local, domestic, or foreign. This is our chance to show the world the many destinations in Eastern Visayas that are still unfamiliar to many,” Tiopes said. “We invite tourists to explore our region, offering a harmonious blend of nature that you won’t find in more well-known tourist spots.”
Kalanggaman Island, stunning 6.8-hectare island more than 15 kilometers from Palompon, Leyte, was the first stop for MS Europa 2.
The island, named after the Visayan word for bird due to its bird-shaped sandbars, offered guests a chance to swim, sunbathe, and try stand-up paddle boarding. Guests were welcomed by performances from Taberna National High School students and a local band playing bossa nova songs.
For Claudine Sieras, a crew member from Bulacan, it was a special moment.
Although this was her fifth visit to Kalanggaman Island, it was her first time setting foot on its shores. “As a Filipino, I am proud that people from other countries can see our beautiful islands. It’s heartwarming to know that our country is being recognized on the world stage,” Sieras shared.
She also expressed pride in welcoming the ship’s guests and emphasized the importance of showing hospitality to international visitors.
After a day in Kalanggaman, MS Europa 2 continued its journey to Boracay Island, with Bohol as its previous stop.
In addition to Kalanggaman Island, the region now boasts several new destinations for cruise ships.
Among the sites featured in the growing list of cruise destinations are Limasawa Island, Padre Burgos in Southern Leyte; Cuatro Islas, Tacloban City, Palo in Leyte; Sambawan Island, Maripipi, and Higatangan Island in Biliran, as well as Biri Island, Capul Island, and the La Laguna Mangrove Eco-Park in Lavezares, Northern Samar.
The DOT continues to explore additional locations for cruise ship visits, offering guests a variety of experiences ranging from recreational activities to cultural, heritage, and educational tours.
TACLOBAN CITY – In a bid to encourage members of the New People’s Army (NPA) to return to the fold of the law, the military in Eastern Visayas is leveraging the observance of Love Month this February.
The campaign, dubbed “Love Will Lead You Back,” is spearheaded by the 802nd Infantry Brigade, which oversees the provinces of Leyte, and parts of Samar and Eastern Samar.
The initiative seeks to persuade rebels to abandon their armed struggle and lay down their arms, said Brigadier General Noel Vestuir, the brigade’s commanding officer, based in Ormoc City.
“This month of love, the 802nd Infantry Brigade delivers a strong message: abandon the fight, for love will lead you back home—to your family, to peace, to the heart’s true victory,” Vestuir said in an interview on Saturday.
Set against the backdrop of Valentine’s Day, the campaign aims to remind insurgents that peace and the warmth of their families await them.
“We hope that the love and support of their families will inspire active rebels to surrender, just like their former comrades who have already chosen to embrace peace,” Vestuir added.
In addition to emotional appeals, the brigade will harness technology to reach out to active rebels. Online campaigns will feature former insurgents, alongside their families, sharing their stories of reintegration and peacebuilding, aiming to inspire others to follow suit.
“This initiative blends technology and emotion to reach insurgents in ways that traditional methods may not,” Vestuir explained.
By showcasing the successful reintegration stories of former rebels, the program seeks to ease fears about surrendering and highlight the government’s commitment to peace, rehabilitation, and second chances for those who choose to leave the armed struggle behind.
As of now, 72 former NPA members have applied for the government’s amnesty program. Of these, 66 are from the Samar provinces, while 6 are from Leyte.
Under the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the government has extended the offer of amnesty not only to NPA members but also to members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
