TACLOBAN CITY – Farmers and residents of two villages in Leyte are now benefiting from faster and safer access to their farms following the completion of a P19.58-million farm-to-market road project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The newly completed 1.742-kilometer road links Barangay Doyog in La Paz and Barangay Burgos in Mayorga, improving year-round connectivity for farming communities that had long struggled with muddy and impassable roads, especially during the rainy season.
Implemented by the DPWH Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office and funded under the 2025 General Appropriations Act, the project involved the concreting of a 1.160-kilometer stretch using a five-meter-wide Portland Cement Concrete Pavement (PCCP), the construction of a 582-meter gravel road extension, and the installation of stone masonry protection works to enhance the road’s stability and durability.

The project was undertaken by CNE Construction at a cost of P19.58 million.

Before the road was improved, residents found it difficult to transport agricultural produce to markets because the route became muddy and hazardous during inclement weather.
Ronalyn Suria, a resident of Sitio Banhaway, Barangay Doyog, said the poor condition of the road previously hampered their livelihood.

“Before our road was concreted, traveling to our rice fields was extremely difficult. Transporting our harvest was a major challenge because the road was very muddy. We often could not bring our agricultural products to the market, and many motorcycle drivers refused to travel to our area because of the poor road conditions and the risk of accidents while hauling rice,” she said.

Suria said the completed road has transformed daily life in the community by making travel safer and more efficient.

“Now that we have a concrete road, traveling has become much easier and safer. Transporting our farm products is faster and more efficient, and more motorcycle drivers are willing to serve our community. We are truly grateful to the DPWH for providing this road because it has greatly improved our livelihood and made our daily lives more convenient,” she added.

The DPWH said the project is expected to reduce transportation costs, improve the movement of agricultural products to markets, strengthen connectivity between rural communities, and contribute to the economic development of the area.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Catbalogan City government has suspended face-to-face classes and placed most local government employees under work-from-home arrangements as a worsening water shortage continues to disrupt daily life despite improving weather conditions.

Mayor Dexter Uy announced the emergency measures, saying the prolonged lack of water has become a serious public concern affecting thousands of residents, schools, businesses, and government operations.

In a statement, the city government said several parts of Catbalogan continue to experience little to no water supply even after heavy rains have subsided, prompting the local government to adopt temporary measures while seeking immediate solutions from the city’s water service providers.

The City Mayor’s Office and the Sangguniang Panlungsod said they have repeatedly sought a comprehensive explanation from Tubig Catbalogan Corporation (TCC) and the Catbalogan Water District (CWD) regarding the continuing supply disruption.

According to the city government, residents have received repeated assurances that the situation would improve, but the water shortage has instead worsened, affecting households, schools, and businesses across the city.

“The lack of water is no longer a simple inconvenience but a public emergency that affects the health, sanitation, education, and daily lives of our people,” the city government said.
To mitigate the impact of the crisis, the city government ordered the suspension of in-person classes in both public and private schools and directed most city government employees to work from home, except personnel assigned to peace and order, disaster risk reduction and management, health and sanitation, and traffic management. Other government agencies and private establishments were encouraged to adopt similar work arrangements where feasible.

Mayor Uy also directed officials of Tubig Catbalogan Corporation and the Catbalogan Water District to meet with the city government and present a detailed report on the causes of the water shortage and the specific measures being undertaken to restore normal service.
The city also ordered the intensification of water rationing operations, immediate action to address operational issues caused by power outages and high water turbidity, and a legal review of the existing agreement between TCC and CWD to determine whether the contract should be maintained, amended, or terminated.

In addition, the City Legal Office was instructed to study possible relief measures for consumers affected by the prolonged service interruption, including adjustments in water service charges.

The city government said it expects the concerned water providers to implement concrete and long-term solutions to restore a stable and reliable water supply for Catbalogan residents as soon as possible.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA, LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Northern Samar achieved a significant milestone in its anti-insurgency campaign after all 14 municipalities in the province’s first congressional district were officially declared under a Stable Internal Peace and Security Condition (SIPSC), making the district insurgency-free, while two towns in the Second District also attained the same status.

The declaration was formalized during a ceremony held at the Provincial Capitol on July 3 through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and a Peace Commitment Pledge attended by provincial officials, military and police leaders, national government agencies, and local chief executives.

Leading the ceremony were Governor Harris Christopher Ongchuan, Major General Peter Burgonio, commander of the 8th Infantry Division, Brig. Gen. Carmelito Pangatungan, commander of the 803rd Infantry Brigade, Northern Samar Police Director Col. Jorge Buyacao Jr., Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Provincial Director Geraldine Maquelabit, representatives of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, municipal mayors, and other stakeholders.

The declaration covers all municipalities in the province’s first congressional district—Allen, Biri, Bobon, Capul, Catarman, Lavezares, Lope de Vega, Mondragon, Rosario, San Antonio, San Isidro, San Jose, San Vicente, and Victoria—signifying that the entire district has successfully transitioned to a Stable Internal Peace and Security Condition.

The municipalities of Laoang and San Roque in the second congressional district were likewise declared under SIPSC, bringing the total number of towns in Northern Samar that have attained the status to 16.

Government officials said the declaration reflects the success of the government’s Whole-of-Nation Approach in addressing the decades-long communist insurgency through sustained military and law enforcement operations, effective local governance, socio-economic development programs, and active community participation.

Governor Ongchuan said the achievement belongs not only to government agencies and security forces but also to the people of Northern Samar, whose cooperation has been instrumental in sustaining peace.

“Peace is a shared responsibility. We must continue working together to ensure that these gains will translate into greater opportunities, improved public services, and a better quality of life for every Nortehanon,” the governor said.

League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Northern Samar Chapter President and Victoria Mayor Maria Ana Gaborni-Abalon described the declaration as a testament to the resilience and unity of the Nortehanon people.

“This milestone reflects our collective determination to build communities where our people can live without fear and where development can flourish,” she said.

For its part, the 8th Infantry Division emphasized that the SIPSC declaration does not mark the end of security efforts but the beginning of a new phase focused on sustaining peace and preventing the resurgence of insurgency.

Military officials urged local government units, national agencies, and communities to remain vigilant and continue working together to preserve the hard-earned peace.
During the ceremony, member agencies of the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) renewed their commitment to strengthen inter-agency coordination, expand community engagement, and ensure the continuous delivery of government programs, particularly in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
Officials said the improved security environment is expected to accelerate infrastructure development, attract investments, create more livelihood opportunities, boost tourism, and enhance the delivery of basic services throughout the province.

The program also featured the distribution of assistance to newly surrendered former rebels, who will undergo reintegration through the provincial government’s Balay Darangpan program.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)