INCREASE ALLOWANCE. Northern Samar’s barangay more than 2,800 health workers share a light moment with Rep. Edwin Ongchuan as the provincial government raises their annual allowance to P8,400, boosting support for grassroots primary healthcare services across the province.
(THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF NORTHERN SAMAR)
INCREASE ALLOWANCE. Northern Samar’s barangay more than 2,800 health workers share a light moment with Rep. Edwin Ongchuan as the provincial government raises their annual allowance to P8,400, boosting support for grassroots primary healthcare services across the province. (THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF NORTHERN SAMAR)
TACLOBAN CITY– In a bid to strengthen primary healthcare services at the grassroots level, the provincial government of Northern Samar has approved an increase in the annual incentives of its 2,849 accredited barangay health workers (BHWs).
Under Sangguniang Panlalawigan Ordinance No. 4, the province amended its earlier incentive measure to raise the annual allowance of accredited BHWs to P8,400, equivalent to P700 per month.
This is an increase from the previous P500 monthly incentive granted under Ordinance No. 6.The adjustment will take effect once the ordinance becomes effective and will not be applied retroactively.
Governor Harris Ongchuan said the measure underscores the provincial government’s commitment to enhancing community-based health services and improving access to basic healthcare, particularly in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
Northern Samar’s 2,849 BHWs are deployed in barangays across the province, serving as the first point of contact for health concerns in their communities. They assist in disease prevention and surveillance, conduct health education campaigns, monitor patients, support immunization drives, and provide basic emergency care.
Provincial officials said the enhanced incentive is both a recognition of the BHWs’ dedication and a practical step toward improving primary healthcare delivery. By increasing support for frontline community health workers, the provincial government hopes to further motivate them and strengthen the overall healthcare system for Nortehanons.
ORMOC CITY – A security guard listed as the No. 10 most wanted person in Biliran province was arrested in Quezon City on February 14, 2026, for a charge of qualified rape of a minor, police reported.
Vicente Tablate Jr., 38, a resident of GK Housing Site in Barangay Burabod, Biliran, Biliran, was apprehended at around 4:40 p.m. in Barangay Doña Josefa.
Authorities said Tablate is ranked 10th in the provincial most wanted persons list.
He was arrested by virtue of a warrant issued on June 20, 2025 by Judge Luz Petilla Navarrete, presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court Branch 16 Naval Biliran.
The court did not recommend bail for the charge of qualified rape of a minor.
The operation was led by the Biliran Provincial Forensic Management Component, in coordination with the Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Biliran Police Provincial Office and personnel of the Biliran Municipal Police Station. The arrest was carried out with assistance from Police Station 11 (Galas) of the Quezon City Police District.
Following his arrest, Tablate was brought to Police Station 11 for proper disposition before being returned to Biliran to face the charges against him.
WIN-WIN SOLUTION. Calbayog City Mayor Raymund Uy said that five wind turbines are not to posted within the watershed area, a move that will help protect the city’s Calbayog Pan-as Hayiban Protected Landscape (CPHPL) where the city’s main source of water is located. A wind energy project is to be established in the area which aim to produce 304 megawatts.(FILE PHOTO)
In Calbayog City
WIN-WIN SOLUTION. Calbayog City Mayor Raymund Uy said that five wind turbines are not to posted within the watershed area, a move that will help protect the city’s Calbayog Pan-as Hayiban Protected Landscape (CPHPL) where the city’s main source of water is located. A wind energy project is to be established in the area which aim to produce 304 megawatts.(FILE PHOTO)
TACLOBAN CITY – The five wind turbines originally planned within the protected watershed of the Calbayog Pan-as Hayiban Protected Landscape (CPHPL) have been cancelled, a move hailed by city officials and environmental advocates as a major step in safeguarding the city’s primary water source and biodiversity.
In a post on his official social media account, City Mayor Raymund Uy confirmed that Vena Corporation decided to scrap the installation of five turbines inside the CPHPL following months of dialogue and advocacy from the Save Calbayog Rivers Foundation (SACRIFICE) and other civil society groups.
The wind energy project—spearheaded by Singapore-based Vena Energy through its local subsidiary, Gemini Wind Energy Corp.—involves the construction of 37 wind turbines across parts of Calbayog City in Samar and the neighboring town of San Isidro in Northern Samar.
Of the 37 turbines, 13 were initially proposed to be located within the CPHPL, a declared protected area since 1988 and currently covered under the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018. The law enforces strict zoning regulations to preserve ecologically critical areas, including watersheds.
Mayor Uy emphasized that while the project has national significance and could transform the region into a renewable energy hub, environmental protection remains non-negotiable.
“Renewable energy must be pursued responsibly, with ecological stability and scientific rigor,” Uy said, stressing that development should not compromise the city’s watershed and long-term environmental security.
During the Sangguniang Panlungsod session on Feb. 24, Nichael Joseph Muncal, senior manager for project development of Vena Corporation, presented an updated technical layout as part of the company’s request for a Resolution of No Objection (RONO). The revised plan relocates certain turbines outside the strict protection zone.
However, experts urged caution.
University professor Phil Harold Mercurio called for a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), detailed hydrological mapping, and a biodiversity audit to ensure that the project will not pose risks to communities and ecosystems.
Eleen Lim, president of SACRIFICE, stressed that climate mitigation efforts must not come at the expense of local environmental stability and insisted that the company must strictly avoid CPHPL boundaries.
The P20-billion project is expected to generate 304 megawatts of renewable power—far exceeding Calbayog’s current estimated energy demand of around 20 megawatts—positioning the city as a potential renewable energy hub in Eastern Visayas.
Despite its scale and economic promise, local officials maintained that environmental safeguards will remain paramount as discussions on the project move forward.
ORMOC CITY – A technical-vocational school in Leyte will expand its free skills training programs after securing a A$175,000 grant from Macquarie Asset Management through the 2025 Macquarie Shared Value Award.
The grant was awarded to the Keitech Educational Foundation, Inc., an initiative of Energy Development Corporation (EDC), a subsidiary of First Gen Corporation. EDC is a portfolio company managed by Macquarie.
Keitech was recognized as one of three winners in the first round of the 2025 Macquarie Shared Value Award, which honors Macquarie-managed teams and assets that combine strong business performance with meaningful social impact. Since it was established in 2023, the award has distributed more than A$1.3 million to 11 organizations worldwide.
The funding will be used to enhance Keitech’s technical and vocational education programs, improve training facilities, and expand access for students in underserved communities in Leyte. The goal is to boost employability and contribute to long-term community development.
Founded in 2009, Keitech provides free, high-quality technical-vocational education to high school graduates from Kananga and nearby Ormoc City. It offers specialized training in high-demand fields such as construction, metals and engineering, and tourism. The foundation has maintained a 100 percent passing rate in Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) national certification exams for over a decade.
EDC, the country’s largest geothermal energy producer, manages about 1.5 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity from geothermal, hydro, solar, and wind facilities. Since acquiring a majority stake in 2017, Macquarie has supported EDC’s renewable energy operations as well as community-based initiatives in host areas.
Jasmine Chew, Regional Head of Asia for the Macquarie Group Foundation, said the partnership demonstrates how business and community collaboration can create lasting impact.
EDC official Allan Barcena welcomed the recognition, saying the grant will allow Keitech to reach more students and strengthen its mission of empowering Leyte’s youth through skills development.
“We are honored to receive the Macquarie Shared Value Award,” Barcena said. “This recognition underscores the impact of our work at Keitech and reaffirms our commitment to empowering the youth of Leyte through education and skills development. The generous grant will enable us to expand our programs and reach more students, ultimately contributing to a brighter future for our community.”
Officials said the expanded support is expected to help address unemployment and limited access to higher education in the region while contributing to local economic growth.
TACLOBAN CITY — Residents and farmers in Burauen, Leyte are now benefiting from safer and smoother travel following the completion of the rehabilitation of the Burauen–Mahagnao Road.
The project, implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office, involved the reblocking of 8,696.01 square meters of road pavement with the installation of new markings. The improvement covers portions of the road in Barangays Bolao and Cansiboy in Burauen and was carried out under the Asset Preservation Maintenance Program for Tertiary Roads.
District Engineer Leo Edward Oppura said the upgraded road enhances public safety, facilitates easier transport for residents and farmers, minimizes vehicle damage, and improves access for visitors, ultimately supporting local businesses and economic activity.
Barangay Councilor Adelina Portillo Morbos recalled the difficulties they faced before the road improvement and expressed gratitude to the DPWH for the project.
“Before our road was improved, it was very difficult for us to pass because it was rough, full of potholes, and rocky. Our students struggled to travel to the town proper, and transporting our products such as coconut, abaca, and vegetables was also a challenge. Now, our road is in good condition. We are very thankful to the DPWH for giving us such a well-improved road. Thank you very much,” Morbos said.
The DPWH Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office said it remains committed to implementing infrastructure projects that enhance road safety, strengthen local livelihoods, and improve access to essential services for communities.
The road project was funded under the 2025 General Appropriations Act with a total allocation of P19,599,377.56 and was undertaken by Just In Enterprises.
HOSPITAL FOR OFW. Leyte Ferdinand Martin Romualdez pushes for the passage of House Bill No. 7227 establishing a permanent Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital in San Fernando City, Pampanga, saying the move is a long-overdue recognition of the country’s “modern heroes” and their vital contribution to the economy. (FILE PHOTO)
HOSPITAL FOR OFW. Leyte Ferdinand Martin Romualdez pushes for the passage of House Bill No. 7227 establishing a permanent Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital in San Fernando City, Pampanga, saying the move is a long-overdue recognition of the country’s “modern heroes” and their vital contribution to the economy. (FILE PHOTO)
TACLOBAN CITY— Leyte First District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez is urging Congress to approve a measure that would establish a dedicated hospital for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families, calling it a long-overdue recognition of the country’s “modern heroes.”
Romualdez, a former House Speaker, said the proposed Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital would provide concrete support to millions of Filipinos whose remittances are vital to the nation’s economy. “Our OFWs carry our economy on their backs. One way to recognize their contribution is to ensure that they and their families have access to quality healthcare,” he said on Monday, Feb. 23.
House Bill No. 7227, filed by Romualdez and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, aims to establish a Level III hospital in San Fernando City, Pampanga, under the Department of Migrant Workers. The hospital would primarily serve OFWs and their dependents while accommodating non-OFW patients as capacity allows.
The bill envisions a full-service facility addressing the unique health risks of migrant workers, including occupational diseases, pre-employment medical screening, stress-related illnesses, and urgent care for repatriated workers. It also includes research programs on migrant health, specialized training for medical personnel, and 24/7 telehealth support through Philippine foreign posts.
Funding would initially come from relevant agencies, with future allocations secured in the General Appropriations Act to ensure the hospital’s long-term sustainability.
