TACLOBAN CITY — Residents of Higatangan Island in Naval, Biliran now have a new platform to showcase local products and services following the launch of a community-based tourism and livelihood initiative dubbed “Kan-anan sa Isla” on April 11.

The program, spearheaded by the municipal government of Naval, aims to strengthen local enterprises while promoting the island as a weekend destination for both residents and visitors.

The initiative was rolled out in place of the canceled Higatangan Island Summer Festival, which local authorities called off this year due to concerns over the prevailing fuel crisis.
Local officials, including members of the Sangguniang Bayan and barangay councils of Mabini and Libertad, joined the opening ceremony in support of the project.

“Kan-anan sa Isla” serves as a weekly gathering hub where local vendors sell food products and offer services such as massage and basic grooming, providing additional income opportunities for small entrepreneurs on the island.

The Naval local government unit said the activity will be held every Saturday until May 30, 2026, as part of sustained efforts to revive tourism activity and support community livelihoods.

Officials expressed optimism that the initiative will help position Higatangan Island as an emerging tourism destination in Biliran while strengthening grassroots economic activity.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan is proposing the use of government earnings from the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power Project to finance a planned fuel storage program of the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), aimed at strengthening the country’s energy security.

Rep. Libanan of the 4Ps party-list group, said the royalties generated from Malampaya could support the establishment of coastal petroleum storage facilities, particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao, to serve as buffer stocks during fuel supply disruptions.

He expressed optimism that Malampaya will continue to yield billions in annual revenues following the successful drilling of two additional gas wells. These funds, he noted, are intended for energy development and could be redirected to support PNOC’s long-term infrastructure plans.

Data from the government’s Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Financing showed that royalties from the Malampaya project reached around P200 billion from 2014 to 2024, averaging P18.2 billion annually. The government receives a 60 percent share of the project’s net proceeds.

To help fund the initiative, Libanan also suggested allowing PNOC to retain a larger portion of its earnings, instead of remitting at least half as dividends as required by law, subject to presidential approval.

PNOC derives income mainly through its subsidiary, PNOC Exploration Corporation, which holds a 10 percent stake in the Malampaya project.

Meanwhile, Prime Energy Resources Development B.V. said two new wells are expected to begin supplying gas by the fourth quarter of 2026, potentially extending the lifespan of the gas field.

The Malampaya project remains a key component of the country’s energy mix, supplying about 20 percent of Luzon’s electricity and helping reduce dependence on imported fuel.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Eastern Visayas has pledged continued support for a farming and livelihood program inside the Northern Samar Provincial Jail, highlighting its role in inmate rehabilitation and food production.

Department of Agriculture-8 Regional Executive Director Rodel Macapañas recently visited the facility in Barangay Dancalan, Bobon town, together with Provincial Agriculturist Jose Luis Acompanado and OIC Provincial Warden Jay Keenson Acebuche to assess ongoing agricultural activities and identify areas for further assistance.

The farming initiative, implemented within the jail compound, forms part of the rehabilitation program for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), providing them with productive skills and livelihood opportunities.

PDLs are currently engaged in cultivating various crops, including pechay and ampalaya, as well as managing poultry and duck raising for egg production, piggery operations, and tilapia farming in the facility’s fishpond.

Beyond agriculture, inmates are also involved in producing bread, woodcrafts, bonsai plants, and artworks, which are sold to local buyers.

These livelihood efforts complement other rehabilitation programs such as skills training, Alternative Learning System (ALS) classes, literacy initiatives, sports development, and spiritual formation.

Macapañas expressed support for expanding training programs, particularly in urban gardening and agricultural production, to further enhance the skills and productivity of the PDLs.

He emphasized that strengthening such initiatives not only contributes to food sustainability within the facility but also equips inmates with competencies that can help them reintegrate into society upon release.

The visit followed a meeting between Macapañas and Northern Samar officials, including Governor Harris Ongchuan and Vice Governor Clarence Dato, to discuss additional agricultural support for the province and reinforce collaboration between national and local governments in advancing both the agriculture sector and rehabilitation programs.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)