TACLOBAN CITY — More than 67,000 indigent senior citizens across Eastern Visayas have received their first-quarter social pension for 2026, as the government continues its support for vulnerable elderly residents in the region.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) office in the region, in coordination with 36 local government units (LGUs), distributed P3,000 each to beneficiaries of the Social Pension Program for Indigent Senior Citizens, covering January to March 2026.

A total of 67,577 senior citizens across the region benefited from the payout, with a total disbursement reaching P202.7 million, according to the agency.

The largest share of beneficiaries came from Leyte with 24,858 recipients, followed by 18,696 in Samar and 11,142 in Southern Leyte. In the smaller island provinces, Biliran recorded 4,726 beneficiaries, Eastern Samar had 4,788, while Northern Samar accounted for 3,367 recipients.

The agency, meanwhile, reminded LGUs to promptly submit liquidation reports to ensure the smooth processing of succeeding fund releases.

The Social Pension Program provides a monthly stipend of P1,000, released on a quarterly basis, to indigent senior citizens aged 60 and above who are frail, sickly, or living with disabilities, and who have no regular income, pension, or financial support from family members.

Last year, DSWD- 8 reported a total disbursement of P854 million to more than 284,000 beneficiaries across all 143 LGUs in Eastern Visayas.

Officials said the program remains a critical intervention to help elderly Filipinos meet basic daily needs amid rising living costs.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Around 200 youth leaders from across Eastern Visayas convened in the city on April 22 for “Urban Bayanihan 2026,” an Earth Day summit aimed at mobilizing young people to take a more active role in addressing climate change and promoting environmental sustainability.

Held at Pacific Point in line with the observance of International Earth Day, the gathering underscored Tacloban’s continuing push for climate resilience more than a decade after the devastation of Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’, which exposed the city’s vulnerability to extreme weather events.

Organizers said the summit served as a platform for collaboration and dialogue, encouraging youth participation in environmental protection and community-based initiatives. Participants engaged in discussions and workshops focused on building resilient and inclusive communities amid the growing impacts of climate change.

A highlight of the event was an interactive booth showcase featuring 11 youth-led organizations presenting their climate advocacies and community projects.

Among the participating groups were The Weekender, Estrella Genoring, JJC Metro Tacloban Ruperto Kangleon, Rotaract Club of San Juanico, Brgy. 60 YHES Organization, Panaad Ha Sinirangan AYEJ-Leyte, Tala EcoFloss, Young Entrepreneurs Society, Youth Innovators, Tacloban Mountaineering Advocates Club, and Sumusip Young Builders.

Rasheed Luke Abordo, one of the exhibitors, welcomed the opportunity to connect with fellow advocates. “I love the community that we have here in Tacloban because we are surrounded by like-minded individuals who also stand for the environment,” he said.

The event also featured creative competitions, including poster-making, slogan writing, and siday (poetry), all centered on raising awareness about environmental responsibility.

Project lead Aron Sedrick Caminong said the turnout exceeded expectations, noting the participation of youth leaders from across the region.

“The goal is to unite youth leaders in Tacloban City, but we were surprised to have registrants from across Eastern Visayas,” he said. “We want the youth to feel inspired and to realize that they are not alone in pushing for climate action.”

Organizers said the initiative highlights the critical role of the youth in advancing sustainability efforts, emphasizing that collective action at the community level can drive meaningful environmental change.

(RICARDO TODIO, LNU STUDENT INTERN)

ORMOC CITY — Ten houses were completely destroyed while another was partially damaged after a fire allegedly set by a resident swept through Phase 3, Sitio San Roque, Barangay Larrazabal on Friday evening, April 24.

Police identified the suspect as alias “Mike,” 29, single, unemployed, and a resident of the area. He is currently detained at the municipal police station.

According to initial investigation, the suspect reportedly became enraged over a missing cellphone and allegedly threatened to burn down the neighborhood if it was not found. Shortly after, the fire broke out at around 6:30 p.m.

Witnesses said the suspect even shouted “Happy New Year!” as flames began to spread.
The fire quickly escalated due to the houses being made mostly of wood and other light materials, prompting authorities to raise a second alarm. Fire trucks from neighboring towns—Almeria, Biliran, Cabucgayan, and Kawayan—were deployed to assist in containing the blaze.

Firefighters managed to control the fire by 6:57 p.m. and fully extinguished it by 7:14 p.m., preventing further spread to nearby homes.

The suspect was arrested through a hot pursuit operation with the help of his relatives. Authorities said he was informed of the nature of his arrest and his constitutional rights in a language he understands.

No injuries were reported, but the fire caused an estimated P442,000 in damage.

(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY — A new workplace-based training program aimed at closing the gap between education and employment was formally launched in Eastern Visayas, with Rep. Jude Acidre of Tingog party-list leading the rollout of the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) initiative in the city.

The regional launch, held at ACLC Tacloban Fatima Campus on April 20, gathered key stakeholders from government, industry, and technical-vocational sectors to support the implementation of Republic Act No. 12063, a measure that promotes learning within actual workplace environments.

Rep. Acidre said the EBET program is designed to make skills training more responsive to industry needs by immersing learners in real job settings. He emphasized that the approach helps address persistent challenges such as job-skills mismatch and limited work experience among graduates.

The law positions industries as active partners in designing training programs, ensuring that competencies developed by trainees are aligned with current labor market demands. Among its key goals are improving employability, strengthening industry-led training systems, and creating a more job-ready workforce.

The initiative also highlights the role of collaboration among the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), business groups, and educational institutions in expanding access to relevant training opportunities across the region.

Acidre acknowledged the support of TESDA Director General Jose Francisco Benitez and Deputy Director General Dan Navarro, as well as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, for backing the program’s rollout.

He said EBET ultimately aims to bring employment opportunities closer to local communities, enabling more Filipinos—particularly in Eastern Visayas—to access stable jobs without needing to migrate elsewhere for work.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)