ORMOC CITY-More than P3 million worth of suspected shabu was recovered from a high-value individual during a buy-bust operation conducted by operatives of the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit of the Southern Leyte Provincial Police Office and the Station Drug Enforcement Team of local police in Hinunangan, Southern Leyte.
The operation took place at around 8:22 pm on Thursday, August 15, in Barangay Ingan, in the said town.
The suspect was identified as alias “Lan-lan,” 44, a welder by profession, and a resident of Brgy. Libas.
During the operation, police recovered five sachets containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu, purchased by an undercover operative for P5,000.
In a body search conducted in the presence of an elected official and a representative from the local media, a white sling bag was found in the suspect’s possession.
Inside the bag was a large plastic packet containing 520 grams of the same white crystalline substance, also suspected to be shabu.
Additionally, ten P500 bills were recovered, including one court-marked bill with serial number HF212442 used in the operation, while the other nine were boodle money used as bait.
The total weight of the recovered suspected illegal drugs was 521.5 grams, with an estimated street value of P3.54 million.
Charges for violations of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, have already been filed with the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office against the suspect, who is currently detained at the lock-up cell of Hinunangan police station. (ROBERT DEJON)
TACLOBAN CITY – The management of Leyte II Electric Cooperative (Leyeco II) expressed its gratitude to President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, and House Speaker and Leyte congressman, Martin Romualdez, among others, for the fast approval of their renewal of franchise.
By virtue of RA No. 12017, signed into law on August 9, 2024, Leyeco II became the first electric cooperative in the country to renew its franchise to construct, install, establish, operate, own, manage, and maintain distribution systems for the conveyance of electric power to end-users in the towns of Babatngon and Palo and here in Tacloban City.
The power utility, headed by Engr. Fernan Paul Tan, also expressed their gratitude to all the individuals who played a crucial role in making the franchise renewal a reality.
“We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the people behind the realization of this milestone, especially to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., committee on public services chair Senator Grace Poe, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Tingog party-list’s Representatives Yedda Marie K. Romualdez and Jude Acidre, APEC party-list Rep. Sergio Dagooc, and PHILRECA party-list Rep.Presley C. De Jesus,” it said in a statement.
“To our member-consumer-owners (MCOs), let this stand as our commitment that your electric cooperative, led by our board of directors and management, will remain steadfast in upholding our mandate and will continue to heed your call for quality and efficient service,” it said. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
ORMOC CITY-Five individuals were apprehended by local police and personnel from the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of Culaba, Biliran for illegal fishing at around 6 am on Friday, August 16, in the waters off Barangay San Roque of said town.
The arrested individuals were identified as alias “Wil,” 5; alias “Mak,” 34; alias “Liki,” 25; alias “Jon,” 23; and alias “Jo,” 23.
All are fishermen and residents of Brgy. Looc.
According to the Culaba police, they were conducting a seaborne patrol alongside MAO personnel when they caught the five individuals in the act of illegal fishing.
The violators were using a fishing method locally known as “paburo” without any legal documents or permits, which is a violation of the municipal fishing license and permits.
The authorities confiscated a fishing boat valued at approximately P160,000, a motor engine worth P60,000, a fishing net valued at P230,000, and 90 kilos of caught fish with an estimated value of P3,500.
The violators, along with the confiscated items, were brought to Culaba municipal police station for documentation and were subsequently turned over to MAO Culaba for proper disposition.
The fishing boat was brought to the shoreline of Brgy. San Roque. (ROBERT DEJON)
TOURISM COMEONS. Northern Samar is adding tourism activities as its way to lure in more tourists to the province. The Provincial Tourism Office, headed by Maria Josette Doctor, added the fun farm tour and seafood tour, under its tourism circuits. (THE NORTHERN SAMAR PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)
In Northern Samar
TOURISM COMEONS. Northern Samar is adding tourism activities as its way to lure in more tourists to the province. The Provincial Tourism Office, headed by Maria Josette Doctor, added the fun farm tour and seafood tour, under its tourism circuits. (THE NORTHERN SAMAR PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)
TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial government of Northern Samar, through its Provincial Tourism Office (PTO), has introduced two new tourism circuits aimed at attracting more visitors to experience the province’s unique offerings.
These additions, the ‘Fun Farm Tour’ and the ‘Seafood Tour’, complement the four existing tourism circuits already available in the region.
The Fun Farm Tour and Seafood Tour are designed to showcase the rich agricultural landscape and innovative farming practices of Northern Samar, offering immersive experiences for both domestic and foreign tourists.
The Fun Farm Tour highlights the municipalities of Mondragon, Silvino Lubos, and San Roque, and Pambujan, areas known for their agricultural abundance and provide visitors with opportunities for garden-to-table food tasting, farming and food processing tours, and homestay experiences, which have become increasingly popular across the country.
Meanwhile, the Seafood Tour focuses on the towns of San Jose and Rosario, renowned for their delicious mud crabs, fresh fish, spider shells (sahang), squid, shrimp, and other exquisite seafood.
This tour also includes activities such as diving, fishing, food processing, and ocean-to-table dining experiences.
Maria Josette Doctor, the provincial tourism officer, presented these new tourism concepts to the provincial government department heads during the 3rd Quarter Development Cluster Meeting held last week.
The PTO collaborated with the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO), the Provincial Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office (PEDIPO), and the Provincial Government’s Food Security and Sustainable Economic Development Cluster to conceptualize and promote these new tourism circuits.
Before the introduction of these new tours, the province already offered several tourism circuits: the Balicuatro Island Hopping Tour, which includes the towns of San Antonio, Capul, San Vicente, and Allen; the Eco-Tour featuring the Lalaguna Mangrove Eco-Park in Lavezares and the Biri Rock Formations on Biri Island; the River Cruise in the towns of Catubig, Las Navas, and Laoang; and the Pacific Tour, which covers the Pacific towns of Palapag, Mapanas, Gamay, and Lapinig.
The development and promotion of these tourism circuits are part of Governor Edwin Ongchuan’s broader initiative under the Food Security and Sustainable Economic Development program.
This initiative aims to boost tourism, livelihood, and economic development throughout the province.
We have been told, time and again, about the benefits of growing fruits, vegetables, cereals, and other eatables for personal sustenance, economic growth, and food security. Despite these well-meaning efforts, many people remain reluctant to engage in agricultural activities due, partly, to the rampant problem of theft, which has turned what should be a rewarding endeavor into a source of frustration and disillusionment.
Theft in agricultural communities is more than just an inconvenience; it directly attacks the livelihoods of those who labor to cultivate the land. Farmers invest money, time, and physical effort in planting and nurturing their crops. Yet, when harvest season arrives, many find that the fruits of their labor have been stolen by individuals who contributed nothing to the process. This injustice discourages people from planting in the first place, as the risk of losing everything to thieves is too great. Why should anyone continue to toil under the sun when others are just waiting in the shadows to reap the rewards?
This problem is particularly acute in areas where law enforcement is either ineffective or indifferent. When people feel that their hard work is not protected and that there are no consequences for those who steal, the entire incentive structure for agricultural productivity collapses. This creates a vicious cycle: fewer people plant, leading to less local food production, which in turn makes communities more reliant on external food sources, driving up costs and increasing food insecurity.
Moreover, the social implications of this theft are tremendous. Trust within communities erodes as people become suspicious of their neighbors, wondering who among them might be responsible for the thefts. This breakdown in social cohesion further discourages collaborative efforts that could otherwise strengthen agricultural output, such as community farming initiatives or cooperative storage facilities. The fear of theft not only undermines individual efforts, it also weakens the potential for collective action.
Strengthening law enforcement and ensuring that agricultural theft is treated with the seriousness it deserves is crucial. Communities should establish local watch groups or other forms of collective security. There must be renewed efforts to educate people on the long-term benefits of agricultural productivity, coupled with assurances that their investments will be protected. This would encourage people to contribute to the food security and economic stability of their communities.
The speed at which the world is changing never ceases to amaze me. When I reflect on the past few decades, it feels like we’ve gone through more transformations in communication, transportation, and technology than any previous generation could have imagined. Growing up, I remember a time when writing letters, making phone calls on landlines, and getting lost in a new city without GPS were all part of daily life. But now, those days seem like distant memories. Everything has become faster and more interconnected, making the world feel smaller and more accessible than ever before.
I think the real acceleration began with the rise of the internet in the late 20th century. The moment we gained the ability to share information instantly across the globe, the floodgates opened. Suddenly, it wasn’t just about communicating faster; it was about transforming every aspect of our lives. The way we travel, work, learn, and even think has been fundamentally altered. In communication, we moved from letters to emails to instant messaging and social media, each step making it easier to stay connected with anyone, anywhere. In transportation, we’ve seen the advent of high-speed trains, electric cars, and the possibility of commercial space travel on the horizon.
Technology, of course, has been the biggest game-changer. The development of smartphones puts the power of the internet in our pockets, giving us access to a world of information at our fingertips. Artificial intelligence (AI) has taken things even further, making it possible for machines to learn, adapt, and even make decisions in ways that were once the exclusive domain of humans. These changes have happened so quickly that sometimes I struggle to keep up. It feels like the moment I get used to one new technology, another one comes along to replace it.
Looking ahead, I often wonder where this rapid pace of change will take us. What will our world look like in another ten or twenty years? The possibilities are both thrilling and a bit daunting. On one hand, I’m excited by the potential for advancements in medicine, environmental sustainability, and global communication. AI could help us solve some of the world’s most pressing problems, from climate change to disease eradication. But on the other hand, I worry about the impact on jobs, privacy, and the human experience itself. Will we become so reliant on technology that we lose touch with the things that make us human?
The question of whether AI will replace us in all aspects of life weighs heavily on my mind. There’s no doubt that AI will continue to take over tasks that are repetitive, dangerous, or require complex data analysis. We’ve already seen this in industries like manufacturing, logistics, and even customer service. But the idea that AI could replace humans entirely is unsettling. What would it mean for our sense of purpose if machines could do everything we can, and perhaps do it better? It’s a future that’s hard to imagine, yet one that seems increasingly possible.
However, I do believe there are areas where AI will struggle to fully invade. Creativity is one of them. While AI can generate art, music, and even write stories, it does so by mimicking patterns it has learned from human creations. It cannot truly innovate or draw inspiration from personal experiences, emotions, and the complexities of the human condition. Similarly, jobs that require deep empathy and understanding, like those in healthcare, education, and counseling, are areas where I believe humans will always have the upper hand. AI can assist, but it can’t replace the human touch that comes from genuine care and connection.
In this rapidly changing world, I think we must focus on these uniquely human qualities. By nurturing our creativity, empathy, and capacity for deep relationships, we can carve out spaces that AI cannot invade. These are the areas where we can continue to find meaning and purpose, even as technology reshapes the world around us. It’s not about resisting change but about finding our place within it, ensuring that we don’t lose sight of what makes us truly human.
So, as I navigate this fast-paced, ever-evolving landscape, I try to remind myself that while technology can enhance our lives in countless ways, it’s our humanity that will ultimately prevail and guide us. We embrace the changes that come our way, but we also hold onto the things that AI can never replicate; we can create a future that is not just technologically advanced but also deeply fulfilling and authentically human.
