ORMOC CITY-The towns of Sogod, Southern Leyte, and Calbiga in Samar have been declared under Stable Internal Peace and Security Condition (SIPSC), marking a significant improvement in the peace and order situation in their respective areas.
Sogod’s declaration was formalized through a resolution passed by the Sangguniang Bayan, affirming the municipality’s transition to a more secure environment. Local officials said the milestone could pave the way for economic growth and strengthen the town’s bid for cityhood.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government in Southern Leyte noted that sustained peace is expected to boost investor confidence, but emphasized that continuous governance and development efforts remain crucial to prevent the resurgence of insurgency.
In Samar, Calbiga—previously identified as an insurgency-affected area—also achieved SIPSC status following years of government interventions, including infrastructure projects aimed at improving access in remote communities.
Mayor Red Nacario credited the support of the provincial government and partner agencies, and called on remaining members of armed groups to surrender and avail of government reintegration programs.
The Philippine Army 8th Infantry Division welcomed the development, describing it as a result of sustained collaboration among local governments, security forces, and communities in promoting lasting peace and development.
TACLOBAN CITY — The academic community in Eastern Visayas is grieving the death of educator and school founder Edward Chua, who passed away on April 26 at the age of 67.
The Commission on Higher Education (ChEd) in the region expressed deep sorrow over his passing, honoring his long-standing contributions to higher education and community development in the region.
Chua was the founding president of the Asian Development Foundation College and served as president of the Eastern Visayas Association of Higher Education Institutions, where he championed collaboration among schools. He also led PRISAA Region VIII, promoting sports and holistic student development.
Outside academia, Chua was an active officer of the Philippine Red Cross Leyte Chapter, supporting humanitarian efforts during emergencies.
Colleagues and former students remembered him for his integrity, leadership, and dedication to education.
Wake services are being held at Cosmopolitan Memorial Chapels from April 27 to 29.
ORMOC CITY — A three-year-old child was killed while several members of different families were injured after a vehicle rammed into pedestrians in Barangay Imelda, Tolosa on the evening of April 24, 2026.
The fatality, identified as MLD, 3, of Barangay Cabuynan, Tanauan, was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. Among those injured were “Mel,” 28, and MJC, 7, who are also from the same barangay and belong to the child’s family. Their father later reported to authorities that he also sustained minor injuries.
Other victims included “Hel,” 40, of Barangay Malbog, Tolosa; “Ger,” 32; AGT, 1; JTD, 10; SMD, 9; and KTD, 5 — all residents of Barangay Capangihan, Tolosa. Another individual later reported to police that they had also been injured in the incident. Most of the victims were from family groups.
Police identified the vehicle involved as a silver/green Mitsubishi Adventure driven by “Tony,” 55, a resident of Barangay Balao, Burauen.
Initial investigation by the Tolosa Municipal Police Station said the incident occurred at around 7:55 p.m. along Imelda Lane, near the town plaza, where officers were conducting foot patrol and visibility operations. Responding officers found several victims lying on the ground, while the vehicle had crashed into the stairs of the Tolosa Town Plaza.
Authorities said the vehicle was heading toward the national highway when the driver reportedly lost control, swerved toward an ukay-ukay stall, and struck the pedestrians.
The injured were rushed to the Governor Benjamin T. Romualdez General Hospital and Schistosomiasis Center and the Leyte Provincial Hospital with the assistance of the Tolosa Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office rescue team.
The driver and the vehicle are now in police custody as authorities continue their investigation into the incident.
TACLOBAN CITY — All 43 examinees from Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) in Borongan City passed the April 2026 Midwives Licensure Examination, making it the top-performing school nationwide.
Eastern Samar Lone District Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales lauded the graduates for achieving a 100 percent passing rate, calling it a testament to their dedication and commitment to the profession.
He also commended graduate Graceil Rado Dacuno for placing 10th in the exam with a 92.2 percent rating.
Data from the Professional Regulation Commission showed that 901 out of 2,124 examinees passed the exam nationwide, or a 42.4 percent passing rate.
Among schools with at least 30 examinees, ESSU ranked first, followed by the University of the Philippines School of Health Sciences and Tagoloan Community College in Misamis Oriental.
Gonzales emphasized the crucial role of midwives in delivering maternal and child healthcare, particularly in underserved communities.
TACLOBAN CITY— A minor killed in an armed encounter in Samar was laid to rest on Saturday, April 25, as his grieving mother called for justice and condemned the group she said recruited and abandoned her child.
The victim, identified as alias John Paul, died during a clash on April 17, 2026. His burial was facilitated through the assistance of the local government of San Jose de Buan.
His mother, Jessa, expressed gratitude to the local government for helping provide her son a proper burial, but also voiced anger toward the armed group she blamed for his death.
“An akon gad la ginsasakitan han buot kay ngano ira la ginbabyaanan, waray la nira atamana. Ira gin-inupod mahingada [engkwentro] pero waray nira atamana, ginpahamak la nira,” she said, questioning why her son was left behind during the encounter.
She urged members of the group to surrender to avoid suffering the same fate, and made an emotional appeal to a relative still involved in the movement to return home.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns over the recruitment of minors into armed group, a violation of national and international laws protecting children in conflict.
The Philippine Army 8th Infantry Division condemned the continued involvement of minors in armed struggle and reiterated its commitment to programs focused on community awareness and youth protection.
Authorities also urged families and communities to remain vigilant and report any attempts to recruit children into armed groups.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA, ROEL T. AMAZONA, ROBERT DEJON)
MODEST GROWTH.The Eastern Visayas economy records a modest 1.0 percent growth in 2025, down from 6.1 percent in the previous year with the load restrictions at the San Juanico Bridge among the factors as it disrupted the movement of goods and slowed trade and logistics across the region, according to government data.(TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)
Due to bridge restrictions and flood control mess
MODEST GROWTH.The Eastern Visayas economy records a modest 1.0 percent growth in 2025, down from 6.1 percent in the previous year with the load restrictions at the San Juanico Bridge among the factors as it disrupted the movement of goods and slowed trade and logistics across the region, according to government data.(TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)
TACLOBAN CITY — Eastern Visayas’ economy expanded by just 1.0 percent in 2025, a sharp slowdown from the 6.1 percent growth recorded in 2024, as mobility restrictions at the San Juanico Bridge and setbacks in public construction dampened economic activity, regional officials said.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the region’s economy reached P560.71 billion in 2025, slightly higher than P555.23 billion in 2024, but reflecting a significant deceleration in growth.
Meylene Rosales, regional director of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, said the region’s performance mirrored a broader national trend of slower growth.
“While our growth decelerated compared to 2024, we still consider this positive. And for any consolations, almost all regions experienced similar slowdowns, except for Western Visayas and BARMM,” Rosales said in a media interview on Thursday, April 23.
Rosales cited several factors that weighed on the region’s economic performance, foremost of which was the restricted use of the San Juanico Bridge—Eastern Visayas’ main land link to the rest of the country.
The Department of Public Works and Highways imposed a strict weight limit on the bridge in 2025 due to structural concerns, initially allowing only light vehicles before gradually increasing the limit to heavier loads under controlled conditions.
The restrictions disrupted the movement of goods and people, significantly affecting logistics, trade, and supply chains across the six-province region of over 4.6 million people.
Another contributing factor was the slowdown in public construction, partly linked to issues surrounding flood control projects. However, Rosales clarified that there has been no confirmed evidence of “ghost” flood control projects in the region, noting that details on the number of affected government-funded projects remain unavailable.
A series of typhoons and climate-related disruptions further dragged down growth, particularly in agriculture—one of the region’s key economic drivers.
“These weather disturbances significantly affected agriculture and other weather-dependent sectors,” Rosales said.
PSA data indicated contractions in manufacturing, construction, and agriculture, forestry, and fishing, underscoring the broad impact of these challenges.
Despite the slowdown, economic managers remain cautiously optimistic, citing the region’s continued expansion and the gradual easing of logistical constraints as potential drivers of recovery moving forward though the current fuel crisis may just yet affect the forecast.
