TACLOBAN CITY – More than 50,000 farmers and fisherfolk across Eastern Visayas have received a total of P120 million in financial assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA) under the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk Program (PAFFP), as the government seeks to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices and increasing production costs.

The distribution, which ran from June 16 to July 14, covered beneficiaries in 35 local government units (LGUs) across the region. Each recipient received P2,325 in direct cash assistance, according to the DA regional office.

The financial aid is intended to help small-scale farmers and fisherfolk cope with higher operating expenses brought about by increasing fuel prices and the rising cost of agricultural and fishing inputs, which have affected food production and household incomes.

The PAFFP is a national government intervention launched to provide immediate financial assistance to farmers and fisherfolk adversely affected by surging fuel prices. Beneficiaries are identified through the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and other validated government databases.

DA- 8 said the assistance would help beneficiaries continue farming and fishing activities while easing the burden of meeting their families’ daily needs.

Among those who received the assistance was fisherman Leonardo Mendiola, who said the cash aid came at a time when his family’s income was barely enough to cover basic expenses.

“This program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has greatly helped fisherfolk throughout the country, especially with the rising prices of fuel and other basic commodities. We truly need assistance from the government during these difficult times. This support is a tremendous help to my family because my income from fishing and other sidelines is only enough to provide for our daily meals,” Mendiola said as quoted by DA.

Another beneficiary, Rogelio Padilla, said the assistance would be used primarily to buy fuel needed for his livelihood, while the remaining amount would go toward purchasing rice and helping finance his children’s education.

“I am grateful to the Department of Agriculture. This assistance is a great help in purchasing fuel for our livelihood. Whatever remains will be used to buy rice and support the education of our children,” Padilla said.

The DA said the cash assistance program forms part of the government’s efforts to ensure that farmers and fisherfolk continue producing food despite mounting economic pressures.
Eastern Visayas is among the country’s major producers of rice, coconut, fisheries, and other agricultural commodities. However, farmers and fisherfolk in the region have been grappling with rising fuel prices, higher fertilizer costs, and expensive fishing and farming inputs, reducing their already modest earnings.

The agency said it will continue implementing programs aimed at improving the productivity and income of farmers and fisherfolk while strengthening the country’s food security.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY – Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez has filed a bill seeking to establish a National Agriculture Education System (NAES) aim to strengthen agricultural education, encourage more young Filipinos to pursue careers in farming, and improve the country’s long-term food security and self-sufficiency.

The proposal, House Bill No. 4664, is being promoted this July in observance of Philippine Agriculturists’ Month. The measure seeks to integrate public and private educational institutions into a unified national network to strengthen instruction in agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and animal husbandry.

According to Romualdez, the creation of the NAES would help accelerate the transfer of modern agricultural technologies, scientific research, and innovations to farming communities, particularly in the provinces, with the goal of increasing agricultural productivity and improving the incomes of farmers and fisherfolk.

The bill also aims to make agriculture more attractive to the younger generation by providing more structured education and training programs, addressing concerns over the country’s aging farming population.

If enacted into law, the proposed system would establish a coordinated framework for agricultural education from basic to higher education while promoting collaboration among schools, research institutions, government agencies, and the private sector.

The measure also provides support for agribusiness development, free community-based training, livelihood guidance, incentives and tax benefits, and assistance to private schools offering agriculture-related programs.

At the national level, the bill seeks to institutionalize a unified agricultural education system backed by permanent funding, technical assistance from experts, and programs designed to increase farm productivity and farmers’ incomes.

The proposal comes as the Philippines continues to face challenges in ensuring food security amid declining interest among young people in agriculture, the aging farming workforce, climate-related disruptions, and rising production costs. Government officials have repeatedly emphasized the need to modernize the agriculture sector and attract a new generation of skilled farmers and agripreneurs to sustain the country’s food supply.

Supporters of the measure said strengthening agricultural education is essential to producing a highly skilled workforce capable of adopting modern farming technologies, increasing local food production, and reducing the country’s dependence on imported agricultural products.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY – Motorists traveling along the Palo-Carigara-Ormoc Road are advised to expect slower traffic after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) temporarily closed two lanes of a four-lane highway section in the municipality of Sta. Fe, Leyte.

In a public advisory issued Wednesday, July 15, the DPWH Leyte 1st District Engineering Office announced that the partial lane closure covers the stretch between the welcome arches marking the boundary of Barangay Milagrosa and Barangay Zone I in Sta. Fe.
The temporary traffic scheme took effect on July 9 and will remain in place until July 25.
Despite the closure of two lanes, the remaining two lanes will continue to accommodate motorists traveling in both directions between the municipalities of Palo and Alangalang to minimize disruptions in traffic flow.

The DPWH urged motorists to slow down, observe traffic signs, and follow the directions of traffic personnel while passing through the affected area.

The agency did not specify the nature of the work being undertaken but said the temporary traffic management measures are necessary to facilitate ongoing activities along the highway.

The DPWH also appealed for the public’s patience and understanding, apologizing for the inconvenience caused by the temporary lane restrictions.

The Palo-Carigara-Ormoc Road is one of Leyte’s major national highways, serving as a vital transport corridor that links Tacloban City and eastern municipalities to western Leyte, including Ormoc City. The route carries thousands of commuters, cargo trucks, and public utility vehicles daily, making uninterrupted traffic flow essential to the movement of people and goods across the province.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

MANILA-On July 6, the U.S. Peace Corps in the Philippines welcomed 49 Volunteers and five Response Volunteers to Manila as the agency celebrates 65 years of service to Filipino communities, dating back to John F. Kennedy’s presidency.

The Peace Corps’ 65th anniversary coincides with other major milestones in 2026, including the 80th anniversary of U.S.-Philippine diplomatic relations and the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.

“For 65 years, Peace Corps Volunteers have lived and worked hand in hand with Filipinos, contributing to shared goals in education, environmental protection, and youth empowerment,” said Peace Corps Philippines Country Director Marguerite Roy. “This new batch will now become part of that story. We are excited to see how this newest group will learn from their host communities while contributing their own skills and experiences.”

Representing the 283rd batch of Peace Corps Volunteers in the country, the 49 new Volunteers will serve for two years alongside partners in communities across the Philippines. They will co-teach English in public elementary and secondary schools, facilitate youth development programs with youth centers managed by the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development, and support coastal resource management initiatives with local government units. Throughout their service, they will integrate into their host communities, learn local languages, and implement projects that respond to locally identified needs.

Meanwhile, the Response Volunteers, representing the 56th batch, are highly skilled professionals serving for 6 to 12 months. They will take on specialized, high-impact assignments in disaster risk reduction, emergency response, and environmental programs that strengthen the capacity of local governments and higher education institutions to address urgent development challenges.

The Philippines is the second oldest U.S. Peace Corps program in the world.  Since 1961, more than 9,700 Americans have set an example of American excellence by serving alongside Filipino communities in support of Philippine government and community development priorities. This year, the Peace Corps is celebrating its 65th anniversary globally and in the Philippines, marking more than six decades of changing lives and transforming global communities through service. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – Hundreds of emergency responders, disaster risk reduction personnel, firefighters, and volunteers from across Eastern Visayas are now in Ormoc City for the ongoing Regional Rescue Jamboree 2026, a weeklong event aimed at sharpening rescue skills and strengthening disaster preparedness in one of the country’s most disaster-prone regions.

The July 12 to 17 jamboree, organized by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-Eastern Visayas in partnership with the Ormoc City government and other regional stakeholders, brings together rescue teams from local government units and national agencies for a series of drills, competitions, and capability-building activities.

The event began with the arrival of participating teams, camp establishment, the organization of the Incident Management Team (IMT), and an opening program.
Participants are currently undergoing various capability-building sessions, including lectures and workshops on emergency response, disaster management, and volunteerism.
Advance teams are also carrying out field preparations and protocol exercises, while medical evaluations and coordination meetings are being conducted to ensure the readiness of all participating contingents.

The highlight of the jamboree is set for July 15, when rescue teams will compete in a series of simulated emergency scenarios designed to test their technical skills, teamwork, and endurance. These include squad swimming, staged obstacle courses, simultaneous water rescue operations, and a mass capsized boat drill.

On July 16, participants will compete in the Firefighter’s Obstacle Competition before the event culminates with an awarding ceremony and solidarity night recognizing the top-performing teams and individual rescuers.

The weeklong activity will conclude Friday, July 17, with camp restoration following the “Leave No Trace” principle before the participating delegations return to their respective provinces.

According to organizers, the Regional Rescue Jamboree serves as a platform for enhancing the operational readiness of emergency responders while strengthening coordination among local government units, volunteer organizations, and national agencies involved in disaster response.

Eastern Visayas is among the country’s most disaster-vulnerable regions, frequently battered by powerful typhoons, floods, storm surges, landslides, earthquakes, and other natural hazards. The region’s exposure to these recurring disasters has underscored the need for continuous training and interoperability among rescue teams to ensure faster and more effective emergency response during calamities.

The OCD said the annual jamboree reflects the government’s continuing commitment to building resilient communities by improving the skills of frontline responders and fostering closer collaboration among agencies tasked with protecting lives and property during disasters.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)