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Baybay city gov’t releases protocol aim to prevent Mpox spread

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Mayor Jose Carlos L. Cari
Mayor Jose Carlos L. Cari

TACLOBAN CITY – The city government of Baybay in Leyte has issued an executive order outlining public health protocols and preventive measures aimed at curbing the spread of monkeypox (Mpox), in response to global alerts from the World Health Organization and national directives.

Baybay City Mayor Jose Carlos L. Cari signed Executive Order No. 05 on Monday, June 2, mandating the strict observance of minimum health standards in all government offices, facilities, and public transportation within the city.

The directive comes amid growing global concern over monkeypox, a viral disease characterized by fever, skin rashes, and lesions. The regional office of the Department of Health (DOH) earlier confirmed that eight suspected cases in Eastern Visayas tested negative for Mpox. The result of one pending sample from Maasin City, Southern Leyte, is still awaiting release.

Under the executive order, wearing of face masks remains voluntary but is mandatory for individuals showing symptoms such as fever, rashes, or lesions. Face masks are also required for passengers inside enclosed and air-conditioned public utility vehicles throughout their travel.

All government facilities and establishments are required to provide hand sanitizers with at least 70% alcohol content or functional handwashing stations. Public gatherings—including trainings, seminars, and conventions—are permitted, provided that organizers ensure participants are properly informed of safety protocols.

Travelers entering or exiting the port of Baybay City will undergo thermal scanning. Those exhibiting symptoms will be asked to provide information for health assessment and contact tracing.

The order also mandates routine disinfection of public offices and vehicles, following standards set by the City Health Office (CHO).

Government offices are instructed to closely monitor and report any employees displaying signs of monkeypox. Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) are urged to intensify surveillance efforts and coordinate with the CHO to detect potential cases at the community level.

Senior citizens and individuals with underlying health conditions are advised to avoid crowded or enclosed spaces to minimize infection risk.

To prevent supply shortages, the city’s Price Monitoring Committee has been tasked with ensuring the availability and price stability of face masks, sanitizers, and other essential commodities.

Private businesses and educational institutions are also directed to implement their own health protocols aligned with the provisions of the executive order.

Mayor Cari called on the community to cooperate fully, stressing that proactive action and unity are key to keeping Baybay City safe and prepared against emerging health threats.

JOEY A. GABIETA

Red tide detected at the Matarinao Bay; BFAR warns public not on shellfish consumption

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RED TIDE. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)reported that Matarinao Bay has the presence of organism that causes red tide, prohibiting the eating and selling of shellfish like alamang and hipon. (PNA)
RED TIDE. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)reported that Matarinao Bay has the presence of organism that causes red tide, prohibiting the eating and selling of shellfish like alamang and hipon. (PNA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Eastern Visayas has issued a red tide warning for Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar, advising the public to refrain from harvesting, selling, and consuming shellfish from the affected waters due to the presence of harmful algal blooms.

In an advisory issued on Monday, June 2, BFAR-8 Regional Director Dominador Maputol said laboratory analysis of filtered seawater samples collected from the bay tested positive for Pyrodinium bahamense, a toxic dinoflagellate known to produce saxitoxin, the toxin responsible for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP).

“As a precautionary measure to safeguard human lives, we are urging the public to avoid gathering, selling, and eating all types of shellfish and Acetes species—locally known as alamang or hipon—from Matarinao Bay,” the advisory read.

The Matarinao Bay covers the towns of General MacArthur, Quinapondan, Hernani, and Salcedo.

BFAR clarified, however, that fish, squid, crab, and shrimp from the area remain safe for consumption provided they are fresh, cleaned thoroughly—particularly with entrails removed—and properly washed before cooking.

The agency assured residents and local government units (LGUs) that it is closely monitoring the affected bay to ensure public safety and prevent the risk of shellfish poisoning.

BFAR advised residents to remain vigilant and comply with the advisory until BFAR declares the waters safe again.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

Eastern Visayas to spotlight regional attractions as host of 2025 Central PH Tourism Expo

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TACLOBAN CITY – Eastern Visayas will host the 2025 Central Philippines Tourism Expo (CPTEx) for the first time, with more than 200 participants expected to gather for the three-day event from June 20 to 22 at Robinsons Place Marasbaras in this city.

Organized by the Department of Tourism (DOT), the annual expo brings together key stakeholders from Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Negros Island Region, and Eastern Visayas to showcase their top destinations, tourism products, travel packages, facilities, and services.

“This will highlight the various tourism products from these regions and introduce them to the broader tourism market across the country,” said Tourism Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes in an interview on Wednesday, June 4.

Eastern Visayas follows Iloilo (2023) and Puerto Princesa (2024) as the third region to host the CPTEx, a flagship event that promotes regional tourism collaboration and business networking.

“This is our opportunity in Eastern Visayas to not only promote our destinations but also engage directly with tour operators from different parts of the country,” Tiopes said.
The event will feature a business-to-business (B2B) marketplace, where tour operators, travel agents, and tourism service providers can forge partnerships and explore offerings from across the Central Philippines.

To further boost regional exposure, a familiarization tour will be conducted for operators unfamiliar with Eastern Visayas’ tourist destinations.

All six provinces of Eastern Visayas will set up dedicated booths during the expo, each manned by tour operators ready to market and sell their respective tourism products to visiting participants.

“Tour operators will serve as frontliners at the booths to directly promote their offerings and increase visibility in the broader market,” said Tiopes.

Beyond business, CPTEx also aims to celebrate the cultural heritage, natural beauty, and diverse attractions of the Central Philippines while championing sustainable tourism practices that protect the environment and preserve cultural assets.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

More flights to Northern Samar as Ibabao Festival nears peak

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ADDITIONAL FLIGHTS. As the province of Northern Samar celebrates its foundation day, more flights were opened by Philippine Airline to meet influx of travelers to the province. Photo shows participants of the Ibabao Festival, the main cultural festival of the province. (PHOTO COURTESY)

 

ADDITIONAL FLIGHTS. As the province of Northern Samar celebrates its foundation day, more flights were opened by Philippine Airline to meet influx of travelers to the province. Photo shows participants of the Ibabao Festival, the main cultural festival of the province. (PHOTO COURTESY)

TACLOBAN CITY— In anticipation of an influx of visitors for the 60th founding anniversary of Northern Samar and the peak of the Ibabao Festival, additional flights to the province have been approved for June 13 to 17, 2025.

The provincial government, led by Governor Edwin Ongchuan and Vice Governor Clarence Dato, announced the development following their formal request for extra flights to Catarman, citing increasing demand during one of the busiest weeks of the year.

“This is a timely boost for tourism and local business,” said the Provincial Media Office, noting that the surge in arrivals is expected as major anniversary events take place during the five-day span.

Among the highlights scheduled are: June 13 – Northern Samar Business Conference and Mutya san Ibabao Coronation Night; June 14 – Music Festival and a concert by Filipino rock icon Bamboo; June 15 – Grand Festival Dance Competition and Float Parade; June 16 – State of the Province Address by Governor Ongchuan and the Kauswagan Awards; and June 17 – closing activities

Currently, flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) operates direct flights from Manila to Catarman four times a week (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays), and from Cebu via PAL’s connecting service on the remaining days (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays).

With the additional flights in place from June 13 to 17, there will be two daily flights between Manila and Catarman, offering more flexible travel times for attendees and visitors. Full flight schedules are expected to be released shortly.

The provincial government encourages both locals and tourists to take advantage of the expanded air access and join in the festivities that celebrate Northern Samar’s cultural pride and development strides.

For more updates, the public is advised to follow official announcements from the provincial government of Northern Samar and Philippine Airlines.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

Mounting losses

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The temporary closure of the San Juanico Bridge has created a costly disruption in the movement of people and goods between Samar and Leyte. It is not a minor inconvenience—it is a debilitating blow that is bleeding the region dry.

The economic repercussions are immediate and widespread. Businesses relying on fast, direct logistics have suffered delays and increased costs due to long reroutes through less-capable roads. Perishable goods, agricultural produce, and time-sensitive cargo are the most affected, resulting in revenue losses and disrupted supply chains. For small enterprises, especially those already struggling, this closure adds unbearable weight. The daily commerce that flows through this critical link between islands is now choked, and the region’s economic arteries are weakened.

Social losses are equally damaging. Commuters, students, and workers who traverse the bridge regularly are now forced to walk long distances or endure inconvenient detours. Elderly passengers, patients seeking hospital care, and students rushing to class now face an exhausting ordeal. This disruption extends beyond discomfort—it strains productivity, delays services, and burdens households already struggling with high transport and living costs.

On the cultural and political fronts, the closure has also dulled the symbolic and functional significance of the bridge as a unifying structure. San Juanico, long touted as an architectural pride and a physical emblem of national unity, is now reduced to a barricaded hazard. It raises serious questions about infrastructure maintenance, risk management, and the real capacity of the agencies tasked with keeping such a vital asset in full working condition. The silence or inaction of national and regional authorities in swiftly addressing this crisis is telling and unforgivable.

A structure as vital as San Juanico must never reach the point of becoming unusable. Authorities must be compelled not only to act, but to act wisely, transparently, and decisively. This incident must serve as a wake-up call—bridges are not just physical links but lifelines to a region’s economic health and public welfare. The longer the delay, the deeper the loss.

An antidote

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Boredom, stress, and loneliness are not theoretical irritations today; they’re real, everyday afflictions gnawing at the fiber of our well-being. They are the soul’s invisible termites. And yet, for something so concrete, we attempt to cure them with costly distractions—high-fashion timeouts, click-through consumption, dopamine-enabled traps masquerading as TikTok clips—bypassing the age-old, proven balm humming quietly in the background: music.

Whether it’s a sad kundiman from a battered transistor radio or a spontaneous karaoke session after work, music carries a unique power to cradle what the world bruises. I’m not speaking as an artist or an expert, but as someone who has been lifted, over and over again, by the simple magic of a melody.

We underestimate the kind of emotional surgery that music performs without us even realizing it. A mournful, slow guitar line can sanctify your unhappiness before you know whether you are unhappy. A waray-waray folk ballad can guide you out of the maze of your head and plant you in something wise, ancient, and greater than your sorrow. Music speaks a language larger than reason. It does not pose questions and will not seek an explanation. It just seizes hold of you. And sometimes that is enough—to be caught without a second thought.

It’s a silent act of rebellion against the desensitizing din of contemporary life. In a time when stress is valued like a badge of work ethic, when silence is an extravagance and idleness is a sin, music is a preservative. It mellows the bitter edges of difficult days, the way retro OPM hits infuse sari-sari stores in the provinces, or the way jazz overflows from café speakers along downtown Cebu streets—these are not accidents. They are quiet but deep affirmations of our hunger for rhythm, for sound, for those moments when ear and heart are engaged in a conversation.

Music is not only for artists or for excessive emotionalists. It’s for the contractor who hums along to the radio when he’s trying to stay awake. For the widow who sings boleros from her youth while she tends to her orchids. For thesis writers who blast indie rock to keep their sanity going through rounds of revisions. Music, even at infrequent moments, is not an indulgence—it’s a survival strategy. And where therapy is costly and quite just too intrusive, it’s usually the most readily available kind of healing.

Let me be clear—this isn’t escapism. It’s alignment. Music won’t keep us from problems; it allows us to approach them with fewer of them. The right song, at the right moment, can shine a light when life is a foggy blur of impending tasks and unfulfilled expectations. It can remind us that others have felt what we’re feeling, that our inner turmoil has shape and rhythm, and therefore, it can pass. Music says, “You’re not alone,” in a way no motivational quote or self-help book ever could.

Of course, music isn’t a panacea. It won’t fix broken systems, it won’t pay the bills, and it won’t mend every broken heart. But what it can do—what it always and silently does—is to provide relief. It provides relief. It purchases time. It purchases breath. And on the long, twisted road of sort of not trying to make it through the day, that is more than a sort of miracle. Even in its most basic, even thirty seconds of sentimental song, music permits us to be and to feel, without spectacle or stigma.

So, the next time you feel like the world is closing in around you, don’t head to the mall on the corner or mechanically scroll through your phone. Get still. Plug in your earbuds. Allow a song to do what it’s done for so many decades—nurture. You don’t need to do it all day. Just now and then. Because sometimes, one little tune is all it takes to get you back to you.

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