ORMOC CITY– A traffic enforcer who had been missing for 10 days was found lifeless and in a state of decomposition at the foot of a ravine in Sitio Ungay, Barangay 5, Balangkayan, Eastern Samar, at around 4:30 pm on February 23.
The victim, identified by police as alias “Josh,” 35, was a traffic enforcer of the Llorente local government unit (LGU) and a resident of Barangay 1, Llorente, Eastern Samar.
According to the Balangkayan police, they responded to a report about a body found in a steep ravine. Upon arrival, they discovered the victim’s remains beside his Yamaha Aerox motorcycle, wearing white and blue basketball shorts and a hooded sweatshirt.
The victim had been reported missing since February 13, 2025. Authorities are now conducting a follow-up investigation to determine if foul play was involved.
The Eastern Samar Provincial Forensic Unit has also been requested to process the scene for further examination.
ORMOC CITY— The lifeless body of an 85-year-old fisherman was discovered by a fellow fisherman near a fish pen around 9 pm on February 24, in Barangay Lo-ok, Lapinig, Northern Samar.
Police identified the victim as alias “Fredo,” a married resident of Barangay Lapinig Del Sur,said town.
Authorities received a report about the incident at 9:45 pm and immediately responded to the scene to conduct an investigation. According to witness alias “Bruno,” a resident of the barangay, he was about to harvest fish when he found the victim’s body beside the fish pen.
Another witness, alias “Jonel,” told the police that earlier that day, around 11:00 am, the victim and his son had borrowed a boat from him, stating that they were heading to Sitio Magangbang, Barangay Lo-ok. However, they never returned.
The victim’s body was taken to Gamay District Hospital for a post-mortem examination. Authorities have yet to confirm the whereabouts of the victim’s son or the status of the borrowed boat.
An investigation is ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
CASH ASSISTANCE. Eighty-year-old Flordeliza Lugnasin expressed her joy after receiving her cash assistance of P10,000 under the government’s Expanded Centenarians Act of 2024 in a ceremony held on Feb. 26 in Tacloban City. (PIA-8)
CASH ASSISTANCE. Eighty-year-old Flordeliza Lugnasin expressed her joy after receiving her cash assistance of P10,000 under the government’s Expanded Centenarians Act of 2024 in a ceremony held on Feb. 26 in Tacloban City. (PIA-8)
TACLOBAN CITY– About 32 senior citizens from Tacloban City received for the first time their cash gift from the National Commission on Senior Citizens Regional Office 8 – some received their money with tears of joy, others with calm and poise.
Flordeliza Lugnasin, 80, who has been living alone for many years now in her humble home in Utap village, Tacloban City, was tearful when she opened her envelope containing her assistance in cash together with a certificate, a token for her resilience and enduring legacy and support for her well-being.
“This is a big help to senior citizens like me who live alone. This amount can at least sustain my medication for the next few months,” Lugnasin, who received P10,000, said during the ceremony on Feb. 26.
Another senior citizen beneficiary, Soledad Medalla, 95, who was the oldest among the 32 recipients said the assistance has been long awaited. She vowed to make good of her health so she may be able to reach her centennial year, qualifying her for the P100,000 cash gift under the Centenarian Act.
The NCSC conducted a nationwide cash gift distribution Wednesday marking the first year since the Expanded Centenarians Act of 2024 came into law.
In Tacloban, the inaugural cash gift distribution also came with a Serbisyo Caravan where the senior citizens availed of services from participating agencies such as the Department of Agriculture, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Information and Communication Technology, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Pursuant to said law, R.A. No. 11982, Filipinos, reaching the “milestone ages” of 80, 85, 90 and 95, whether residing in the country or abroad, are eligible to receive the P10,000 cash gift, and P100,000 upon reaching 100 years old, expanding the benefits, formerly limited to centenarians.
According to the United Nations, from 2025 to 2030, elderly Filipinos aged 60 and above are expected to make up at least 10 percent of the country’s total population, which makes the Philippines an aging society.
In Eastern Visayas, older persons comprise 6.5 percent of the total population which is considered as nearing the threshold for an ageing population, a demographic shift that a government should be prepared for.
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office, led by Assistant Regional Director Ma. Margarita Junia, conducted relief operations for the victims of the recent fire in Brgy. 39, Calvary Hill, Tacloban City on February 22, 2025.
The initiative was carried out in partnership with the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) and was supported by personnel from DPWH-8.
During the relief distribution, Junia expressed her concern for the affected families and emphasized the importance of fire prevention.
“Household things can be bought; money can be earned again. But money cannot buy life. So, let’s be careful,” she said.
Held in Purok 4, Brgy. 39, the relief operation benefited 124 families or 476 individuals, who received relief goods, clothing, portable butane gas stoves, 10 kilos of rice per family, and cooking essentials.
“This may be only a small contribution to help you in your daily needs, but it is a huge step forward for your community to rise again,” Junia said.
In addition to distributing relief items, the DPWH and PCGA teams also organized a feeding program for displaced families.
On February 17, 2025, a fire ravaged approximately 30 houses in Brgy. 39. No one was injured in the incident.
TACLOBAN CITY– The region’s total external trade in goods in October 2024 was posted at USD 475.19 million, 8.5 percent lower than the US$ 519.20 million total trade in October 2023.
Of the total external trade in October 2024, 45.6 percent were exported goods, while 54.2 were imported goods.
With this, the balance of trade in goods (BoT-G) in October 2024 was registered at US$39.46 million, indicating a trade deficit which narrowed by 74.0 percent from USD -151.64 million BoT-G in the same month of 2023.
The value of exports in October 2024 was recorded at USD 217.87 million. This posted an increase of 18.5 percent from US$183.78 million in October 2023. The value of imports in October 2024 declined to US$ 257.32 million, which indicated a decrease of 23.3 percent from US$335.42 million in October 2023.
The total volume of goods exported by the region in October 2024 was 239.14 million kilograms, higher by 208.0 percent compared with the 77.64 million kilograms of exports in October 2023. Copper and articles thereof commodity group dominated the export market with sales which amounted to USD 150.10 million in October 2024.
This accounted 68.9 percent of the total value of exports during the month. The People’s Republic of China was the main export market with US$96.32 million worth of exports (44.2%) in October 2024.
The total volume of goods imported into the region in October 2024 was 229.56 million kilograms, higher by 16.9 percent than the 196.33 million kilograms in October 2023. The commodity group of ores, slag and ash valued at US$206.46 million accounted 80.2 percent of the total value of imports.
The major import supplier was Indonesia which accounted US$74.28 million or 28.9 percent of the total value of imports of the region in October 2024. (PR)
ROTC cadets flash the “Support Mandatory ROTC” banner during the 2025 edition of the Philippine Army ROTC Fancy Drill Competition which was held as one of the pre-128th Philippine Army anniversary activities at the Headquarters Philippine Army Grandstand, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on March 2, 2025. (PHOTO COURTESY)
ROTC cadets flash the “Support Mandatory ROTC” banner during the 2025 edition of the Philippine Army ROTC Fancy Drill Competition which was held as one of the pre-128th Philippine Army anniversary activities at the Headquarters Philippine Army Grandstand, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on March 2, 2025. (PHOTO COURTESY)
FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig City – The Philippine Army’s Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) units from 17 Metro Manila-based universities and colleges showcased their masterful performance and showmanship of rifle drills during the 2025 Philippine Army ROTC Fancy Drill Competition which was held as one of the pre-128th Philippine Army Anniversary Activities at the Headquarters Philippine Army Grandstand, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on March 2, 2025.
The Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa ROTC Unit bested 16 other Metro Manila-based universities’ ROTC Units that participated in the said competition that featured complex rifle maneuvers, synchronized team movements, and precision timing that highlighted months of rigorous training and discipline. The University of Caloocan City finished as the first runner-up, while the Technological University of the Philippines ROTC Unit copped the second runner-up trophy.
During the ceremony, the Commander, Reserve Command, Philippine Army (RCPA) Maj. Gen. Ramon P. Zagala, commended the participating ROTC cadets for their “incredible display of discipline and skill.” Maj. Gen. Zagala also emphasized the importance of ROTC in contributing to nation-building by developing leaders, promoting community engagement, building character, and encouraging civic engagement that are vital in the overall well-being and development of the nation.
“Take pride in what you have achieved today. This event is a stepping stone for greater achievements in the future. Continue to march forward with excellence and purpose,” the RCPA Commander remarked.
Gearing towards, “Matatag na Sandigan ng Bagong Pilipinas,” the activity highlights the ROTC units as an integral part of the Army’s larger mission in External Security Operations. (PR)
