TACLOBAN CITY — Nine former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) have surrendered to government authorities and turned over their firearms in Las Navas, Northern Samar, marking another boost to the government’s campaign to encourage insurgents to return to the folds of the law.

The former rebels were formally presented before the Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC), chaired by Las Navas Mayor John Philbert Tan, who assured them of the local government’s support as they begin their reintegration into mainstream society.

Tan said the municipal government would provide assistance, including financial aid and livelihood opportunities, to help the former rebels rebuild their lives as productive and law-abiding citizens.

Local officials said the surrenderers decided to abandon the armed movement after experiencing hardships while in the underground organization.

The surrender forms part of the government’s continuing peace and reintegration program, which encourages members of communist insurgent groups to lay down their arms and avail themselves of government assistance.

The 8th Infantry Division (8ID) credited the successful surrender to the sustained collaboration among the Armed Forces of the Philippines, local government units, law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders under the government’s Whole-of-Nation Approach through the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

According to the military, synchronized security operations, community engagement, and responsive government interventions have continued to persuade members of armed groups to reject violence and embrace peaceful reintegration.

“The 8th Infantry Division warmly welcomes our fellow Filipinos who have chosen to abandon the armed struggle and return to the folds of the law. Their decision reflects courage, hope, and a desire to build a better future for themselves and their families. We assure them that the government remains committed to supporting their reintegration through programs that promote healing, livelihood, and lasting peace,” the division said in a statement.

The military also called on remaining members of the communist insurgency to surrender, reunite with their families, and become partners in building peaceful and progressive communities across Eastern Visayas.

While security forces will continue pursuing armed groups that pose threats to public safety, the 8ID said the government remains committed to providing opportunities for those willing to renounce armed struggle and start a new life.

Military officials said the latest surrender underscores the government’s dual approach of combining security operations with peacebuilding and development programs to address insurgency and promote lasting peace in Northern Samar.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — The municipal government of Catarman in Northern Samar is set to roll out 11 infrastructure projects worth P82 million in 2026, with investments focused on improving roads, water systems, electrification, education, and government facilities to boost public services and local development.

The projects were presented by the Municipal Engineering Office during a pre-procurement meeting convened by Mayor Dianne E. Rosales as part of preparations for their implementation next year.

Eight of the projects, amounting to P40 million, will be funded through the Local Government Support Fund–Support to Barangay Development Program (LGSF-SBDP).
These include electrification projects in Barangays Libjo, Macagtas, and Somoge; the rehabilitation of a farm-to-market road in Barangay Libjo; the concreting of another farm-to-market road in Barangay Macagtas; the construction of a Level I potable water supply system in Barangay Somoge; the construction of a one-storey, two-classroom school building in Barangay Washington; and the rehabilitation and improvement of the Level II potable water supply system in Barangay Washington.

Another P42 million from the municipality’s 20 percent Economic Development Fund has been allocated for three major projects: the P13-million construction of Balay Palangga (Phase II) in Barangay Galutan, the P7-million site development of the Municipal Slaughterhouse (Phase III) in Barangay Libjo, and the P22-million construction of the New Municipal Building (Phase VIII) at the Catarman Government Center in Barangay Macagtas.
During the meeting, Mayor Rosales reminded engineers and project implementers to ensure that the projects are completed efficiently and that public funds are used responsibly.

“In every infrastructure project you undertake, always keep in mind the welfare of the end-users—the people who will benefit from these projects. We should not allow government funds to go to waste,” Rosales said.

The Municipal Engineering Office said the pre-procurement meeting forms part of the government’s preparations to facilitate the timely implementation of the projects.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — About 5,000 parents across Eastern Visayas have received participation incentives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) after completing the agency’s Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program, which aims to strengthen parental involvement in children’s education while supporting efforts to improve literacy among young learners.

The DSWD-8 completed the distribution of incentives on July 9, with each parent-beneficiary receiving P4,700 after successfully attending the program’s 20-day parenting sessions.

The Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program is a community-based learning initiative that seeks to improve the reading skills of struggling and beginning readers while equipping parents with knowledge and skills that enable them to actively support their children’s education at home.

According to the DSWD, the program encourages parents to become effective learning partners by promoting positive parenting practices and reinforcing the importance of reading and learning within the family.

Aside from the financial assistance, which beneficiaries may use to help meet their children’s educational expenses, many parents said they appreciated the practical lessons and parenting techniques they acquired during the training.

Throughout the 20-day sessions, participants actively engaged in discussions and activities designed to help them better guide and support their children’s learning and overall development.

The beneficiaries came from 12 municipalities and two cities in Samar, as well as the cities of Tacloban, Baybay, and Ormoc in Leyte.

The DSWD said the Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program remains one of the agency’s key initiatives to strengthen family participation in education, improve children’s literacy, and promote better learning outcomes through closer collaboration between parents, communities, and schools.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)