In Leyte

TACLOBAN CITY – Residents and farmers in Barangay Canlampay, Carigara, Leyte now have safer and faster access to schools, markets, and essential services following the completion of a P27.2-million concrete road project by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office (L2DEO).

The newly completed infrastructure project involves the construction of a 2.115-kilometer Portland Cement Concrete Pavement (PCCP) road with a width of five meters and a thickness of 0.20 meters.

The road is also equipped with reflectorized thermoplastic pavement markings to improve visibility and ensure safer travel, especially at night.

The project is expected to significantly improve mobility within the community by reducing travel time, easing the transport of agricultural products, and supporting local economic activities. Farmers, students, and residents are among those who will directly benefit from the improved road condition.

Barangay councilor Leticia Agumbay shared that residents previously struggled with muddy and difficult road conditions, especially during bad weather.

She said students had difficulty going to school, while farmers encountered challenges transporting their products to the town proper due to the lack of a reliable road network.
Agumbay expressed her gratitude to DPWH for providing the community with a better and more accessible road, noting that farmers can now transport their goods more conveniently and students no longer have to pass through muddy roads on their way to school. She added that the entire barangay council and residents of Barangay Canlampay are thankful for the completed project.

Funded under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the project was implemented with a total allocation of Php 27,200,000.00 by Just In Enterprises.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has broadened its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program in Naval, Biliran transforming emergency employment into community-driven development efforts that support eco-tourism, environmental rehabilitation, and local food production.

From March 24 to April 20, 2026, the DOLE-Biliran Field Office (BFO) mobilized hundreds of displaced and disadvantaged workers across several barangays in Naval, assigning them to projects that combined temporary income opportunities with long-term community benefits.

In Barangay San Pablo, 100 beneficiaries were deployed to improve and maintain the Green Lagoon, undertaking works such as pond gate construction, dike heightening for flood protection, and net installation to help safeguard fish stocks and enhance water management.

Another 100 beneficiaries from the villages of Lico, Lucsoon, Calumpang, and Larrazabal worked at Sitio Puro Kube under the supervision of the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) and the Municipal Agricultural Office (MAO). Their tasks included rehabilitating bamboo areas to support eco-tourism development and establishing community vegetable gardens to strengthen local food security.

Each beneficiary received P9,040 in wages during a payout ceremony organized by the DOLE-Biliran Field Office. The agency said the initiative reflects how TUPAD is evolving beyond short-term employment to support sustainable local development and livelihood opportunities.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) regional office is evaluating the potential of a natural hot spring in Calbayog City as a possible site for an innovative geothermal-assisted food processing facility aimed at improving post-harvest preservation for local farmers and fisherfolk.

The DOST-8, through its Samar Provincial Science and Technology Office (PSTO), recently conducted a technical site assessment at the Mapaso Hot Spring in Barangay Rizal II, Calbayog City, in coordination with the local government unit.

The assessment seeks to determine the suitability of the area for the installation of a Solarized Hydrothermal Dehydrator, a technology developed by DOST that utilizes geothermal heat from natural sources such as hot springs to dry agricultural and fishery products.

By integrating hydrothermal energy with solar support, the system is designed to reduce dependence on fuel- or electricity-powered drying methods, offering a more sustainable and cost-efficient alternative for rural communities. It also promotes cleaner production practices by tapping renewable heat sources available in the environment.

The evaluation team, led by DOST Samar Provincial Director Evelyn Bacarra-Tablante and Senior Science Research Specialist Engr. Joseph Albert Lledo, examined key factors such as the stability and temperature of the thermal resource, site accessibility, and proximity to farming and fishing communities that would benefit from the technology.

They also assessed how the equipment could be integrated into the existing landscape of the area.

According to DOST Samar, if the site is deemed suitable, the project could help strengthen post-harvest systems in Calbayog’s rural communities by improving product quality, reducing spoilage, and enhancing overall productivity in the agricultural and fisheries sectors.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

ORMOC CITY– The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 4th District Engineering Office (DEO) officially opened the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Month 2026 during the flag raising ceremony held on Monday, May 4, 2026.

The observance, held in compliance with the directives of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) and in support of Republic Act No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act, was led by OIC-District Engineer Peter Scheler V. Soco.

In his remarks, OIC-DE Soco said, “As public servants, we recognize that efficient, transparent, and client-centered service is not just a mandate — but a responsibility we owe to the public.” He highlighted the practical improvements the office has implemented in recent months, including reducing delays and ensuring clear coordination with the clients, adding that “every small improvement in our work creates a real impact on the people we serve.”

The opening of EODB Month signals the Leyte 4th DEO’s renewed drive toward minimizing red tape and improving accountability within its operations, in keeping with DPWH standards and the broader goals of Bagong Pilipinas.(PR)