TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office has constructed a one-story, two-classroom building at Caghalo Elementary School (CES) in Carigara town to serve Grade 5 and 6 pupils, who had previously used Tzu Chi fabricated classrooms prone to flooding and heat discomfort.

CES school head Nelia Tajanan expressed gratitude for the project, noting it was a decade-long dream now realized.

The classrooms, each measuring 7 by 9 meters, come equipped with comfort rooms, blackboards, electric fans, lighting, a wash area, and ramps with handrails for persons with disabilities (PWDs).

District Engineer Leo Edward Oppura emphasized the building’s role in creating a better learning environment. The project, completed on September 25, 2024, was funded under the Department of Education’s Basic Education Facilities Fund (BEEF) for fiscal year 2023.
CES currently has 286 pupils and 12 teachers.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

With a tag price of P200 million

TACLOBAN CITY – The city government has begun constructing a multi-level parking facility to help alleviate traffic congestion in the area.

The project has an estimated total cost of P200 million, with an initial construction phase valued at P15 million, according to City Engineering Office head Engr. Dionisio de Paz during a media interview.

“The cost of the project is quite significant. We hope to seek assistance from the Tingog Party-list group,” de Paz stated on Wednesday, Nov. 13.

Tingog is a party-list group affiliated with House Speaker and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez.

Construction for the first phase began on Wednesday and is expected to be completed within 120 days. This phase involves erecting structural posts.

The proposed parking facility, which will be a three-story structure, is strategically located near the city port along Quezon Boulevard, within Tacloban’s main downtown area, and could accommodate at least 200 vehicles.

City officials believe that the facility will significantly reduce traffic congestion in Tacloban, which serves as the regional center of Eastern Visayas.

The increasing number of public and private vehicles has exacerbated traffic problems in the city.

Although several private establishments operate parking areas, Tacloban currently lacks a public parking facility, resulting in vehicles parking on streetsides and contributing to traffic congestion.

The completion timeline for the parking facility will depend on the availability of funds.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig City – The Commanding General, Philippine Army (CGPA) Lt. Gen. Roy M. Galido received the U.S. Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander) Medal for his vital role in enhancing Philippine-U.S. (PH-US) defense ties in a conferment ceremony held in Washington D.C., U.S.A. on November 11, 2024.

The U.S. Legion of Merit award highlights Lt. Gen. Galido’s exemplary efforts to enhance PH-US defense ties and advance military objectives amid the fast-changing Indo-Pacific security landscape. The said award is one of the highest honors conferred by the U.S. Department of the Army to American servicemen, and political and military leaders of allied nations.

Lt. Gen. Galido, who took the helm of the Philippine Army on August 2023, “spearheaded the Army modernization efforts to select, procure and integrate several critical, technologically advanced capabilities and ensured his soldiers maintained the edge required to respond to threats, deter adversaries and interoperate with multination forces to defeat any foe,” the Legion of Merit citation read.

The Army Chief has always emphasized the importance of large-scale training exercises evident during the conduct of the first-ever Army-wide Combined Arms Training Exercise (CATEX) “Katihan” early this year and in engaging the U.S. Army in a series of high-impact combined and joint bilateral exercises such as “Salaknib” and “Balikatan” as part of the Army’s strategic shift to territorial defense operations from internal security.

The 66th CGPA joins a prestigious list of Filipino military leaders including former president Fidel V. Ramos and former AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Alfredo M. Santos who have received the U.S. Legion of Merit Medal.(PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – Two American educators have joined the faculties of two state universities in Leyte as part of a 10-month initiative led by the United States’ Department of States Regional English Language Office (RELO).

The program, established in 1969, seeks to enhance English language proficiency in partner countries such as the Philippines.

This year, three English Language Fellows were deployed to the Philippines, with two assigned to Leyte.

Emily Box, from Utah, is currently teaching at Leyte Normal University (LNU) in Tacloban City, while Maureen Rooney, a native of Texas, is based at Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay City. The third fellow has been assigned to Bohol.

Box, who holds a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Utah and brings over 30 years of teaching experience, expressed her enthusiasm for working with Filipino students.

“Many students here are curious about the world and eager to learn from different perspectives. While travel opportunities may be limited, having someone come to the university to share experiences can greatly broaden their horizons,” she said during a November 11 interview.

Rooney, who also has over three decades of experience teaching English, highlighted her students’ eagerness to engage and communicate.

“It’s inspiring to see students breaking down language barriers by speaking English fluently and connecting with a native speaker. Their enthusiasm makes teaching a joy,” she noted.
In some instances, Rooney invited her 20-year-old college-attending son to join her VSU class online, allowing her students to ask questions about the life of a college student in the United States.

Prior to her current role, Rooney taught in Taiwan at National Sun Yat-sen University and Kaohsiung Medical University, also as an English language fellow.

In addition to their regular English proficiency classes, which meet twice weekly and for one hour and 30 minutes, both educators have immersed themselves in local culture and community life, further enriching their experiences in Leyte.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with the community, learn about its culture, and build meaningful relationships,” Box added.

The RELO program extends beyond classroom teaching, supporting curriculum and materials development, teacher training, and professional development initiatives.

Across the Asia-Pacific region, RELO operates in countries such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Brunei, and Papua New Guinea. Collaborating with ministries, educational institutions, and various partners, the program aims to strengthen mutual understanding between the United States and its partner countries.

Since its inception, the English Language Fellow Program has deployed more than 1,000 fellows across 80 countries.

In the Philippines, 22 fellows have partnered with local institutions since 2004, fostering educational and cultural exchange.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)