HEIGHTENED SECURITY. Police maintain security at the Calubian National High School in Calubian, Leyte, after classes were suspended on Monday, Aug. 24, following online threats of a possible shooting. Authorities are verifying the credibility and source of the threats as school officials prioritize the safety of students, teachers and personnel. (Photo courtesy of Calubian National High School)
HEIGHTENED SECURITY. Police maintain security at the Calubian National High School in Calubian, Leyte, after classes were suspended on Monday, Aug. 24, following online threats of a possible shooting. Authorities are verifying the credibility and source of the threats as school officials prioritize the safety of students, teachers and personnel. (Photo courtesy of Calubian National High School)
TACLOBAN CITY — Two public high schools in Calubian, Leyte, suspended classes on Monday, Aug. 24, after threats of a possible shooting circulated on social media, prompting police and school officials to step up security and verify the credibility of the posts.
Calubian National High School (CNHS) and Felix Caneja Lafuente National High School (FCLNHS), which have a combined enrollment of more than 800 students, issued separate advisories suspending classes as a precautionary measure.
School officials coordinated with the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Calubian following reports of online posts warning of possible violence at the campuses.
At CNHS, police personnel were deployed to maintain a 24-hour presence on campus as part of measures to protect students, teachers and other school personnel while authorities assessed the situation.
Authorities urged students, parents and other members of the community to avoid sharing or amplifying unverified posts, saying these could cause unnecessary fear and confusion.
Students and school personnel were also advised to immediately report suspicious activities or information to school officials or law enforcement authorities instead of attempting to verify or investigate threats themselves.
The precautionary measures came amid heightened concerns over school safety following two deadly shooting incidents involving students in the country in recent months.
On June 22, three students were killed and 20 others injured in a shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City.
Two minors were arrested in connection with the incident and placed under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. One of them was subsequently charged with three counts of murder and multiple counts of frustrated murder.
The Tacloban shooting prompted President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to order a thorough investigation and stronger security measures in schools and other public places.
Concerns over campus security were again raised on Aug. 18 after a shooting at the junior high school campus of Ateneo de Zamboanga University in Zamboanga City. A Grade 10 student and the suspected Grade 9 gunman were killed in the incident. Authorities said the attack was livestreamed on social media.
The two incidents, occurring less than two months apart, have heightened concerns about school security and the speed at which threats and disturbing content can spread online.
In Calubian, however, school officials stressed that the suspension was a precautionary step and did not necessarily mean that the online threats had been confirmed as credible.
Authorities continued to assess the threats and monitor the situation while school administrators appealed to parents and students to remain calm and rely only on verified announcements from school officials and law enforcement agencies.
AI AIDED LEARNING.DOST Eastern Visayas Regional Director John Glenn Ocaña and DepEd Eastern Visayas Regional Director Salustiano T. Jimenez sign a memorandum of agreement for the pilot implementation of the e-TURO Digital Learning System in two public schools in the region. The 12-month project aims to complement classroom instruction through technology-enabled learning. (Photo courtesy of Department of Education -8)
AI AIDED LEARNING.DOST Eastern Visayas Regional Director John Glenn Ocaña and DepEd Eastern Visayas Regional Director Salustiano T. Jimenez sign a memorandum of agreement for the pilot implementation of the e-TURO Digital Learning System in two public schools in the region. The 12-month project aims to complement classroom instruction through technology-enabled learning. (Photo courtesy of Department of Education -8)
TACLOBAN CITY — Two public schools in Eastern Visayas will pilot an AI-enhanced digital learning system under a partnership between the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Education (DepEd) aimed at supporting classroom instruction and improving learning opportunities.
The two agencies signed a memorandum of agreement on Aug. 20 for the 12-month pilot implementation of the Enhancing Teachers’ Unimpeded Rational Objectives Digital Learning System (e-TURO DLS), which will run from August 2026 to July 2027.
The pilot schools are the Sto. Niño SPED Center in Tacloban City and Guinsorongan Elementary School in Catbalogan City.
The project has an approved budget of P2.3 million under DOST’s local Grants-in-Aid program. The funding will cover technology subscriptions, hardware, internet connectivity, training and other requirements for the deployment of the system.
DOST Regional Director John Glenn Ocaña said the partnership reflects the agencies’ shared commitment to using science, technology and innovation to improve learning opportunities for children in the region.
“This is a formal joining of hands between two institutions that share one heart: the future of the Eastern Visayas child,” Ocaña said.
Under the agreement, DOST will provide laptop computers, smart televisions, internet connectivity and server support, as well as capacity-building activities for teachers, school information and communications technology (ICT) coordinators and administrators.
DepEd Eastern Visayas will integrate the e-TURO DLS into classroom instruction at the two pilot schools and designate teachers, ICT coordinators and focal persons to oversee the system’s day-to-day use.
DepEd Regional Director Salustiano Jimenez said the AI-enhanced platform will initially support Grade 2 learners in the two schools, providing additional technology-enabled learning experiences.
He said the initiative comes as the region strengthens efforts toward learning recovery and improved educational outcomes.
The project supports the objectives of the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program Act while emphasizing that technology should complement, rather than replace, effective teaching and meaningful learning, Jimenez said.
DepEd will ensure that the platform is aligned with the K–12 curriculum and learning standards and will provide the classroom facilities needed for the equipment.
The system combines a learning management system, a digital content library and artificial intelligence-based content creation tools intended to enhance student learning and improve teacher efficiency.
School orientation and capacity-building activities are scheduled to begin in September, followed by the pilot implementation from September 2026 to July 2027.
Officials said the pilot is expected to provide insights into the use of digital learning resources in actual school settings and help guide the improvement and possible expansion of the initiative to other schools in Eastern Visayas.
Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara discusses proposed measures to strengthen student safety and regulate cellphone and social media use during a regional meeting in Naval, Biliran.(Photo Courtesy)
Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara discusses proposed measures to strengthen student safety and regulate cellphone and social media use during a regional meeting in Naval, Biliran.(Photo Courtesy)
TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Education (DepEd) is considering extending its cellphone restriction to students’ recess and break periods as the agency weighs how to address the harmful effects of social media and online content on children.
Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara disclosed the proposal in response to a question from Caibiran Mayor Rhodessa Revita during the 2nd Quarter Joint Regional Task Force 8–End Local Communist Armed Conflict (JRTF8-ELCAC) meeting held in Naval, Biliran.
“The debate now is whether we should ban cellphone use even during recess or break time. That is something we are currently considering,” Angara said.
Under DepEd Order No. 006, s. 2026, or the Guidelines on Ensuring Safe and Motivating Learning Environment, the use of portable electronic devices by learners and personnel is prohibited during instructional hours.
The policy, however, allows exemptions in meritorious cases, including the use of gadgets for academic purposes such as accessing educational platforms and digital resources and participating in authorized collaborative activities.
Gadgets may also be used during emergencies, including disasters, medical emergencies and other situations involving immediate safety concerns.
Angara acknowledged that completely prohibiting cellphone use during school breaks could create practical difficulties because students sometimes need to contact their parents, particularly to arrange transportation or coordinate who will pick them up.
“Sometimes, students need their cellphones to communicate about when they will be picked up,” he said.
He also expressed concern about requiring students to surrender their phones to teachers or school personnel for safekeeping.
“That would be somewhat impractical for us. Teachers also do not want to be put in charge of the cellphones because if something gets lost, they could be held responsible for paying for it,” Angara said.
The proposed extension of the cellphone restriction comes as Congress considers measures seeking to regulate children’s access to social media and other online platforms, particularly those aged 16 and below.
Angara said the discussions are being undertaken alongside similar initiatives in other countries, including Australia, Great Britain and Denmark.
“We must acknowledge that social media really has harmful effects,” he said, citing the shooting incident in Tacloban City and reports identifying the alleged shooter with the online nihilistic violent group 764.
Angara said addressing the possible harmful effects of social media and online content requires a community-wide effort involving parents, teachers, schools and other stakeholders.
He emphasized the importance of adult guidance for adolescents, particularly those aged 14 to 16, whose brains are still developing in areas associated with emotional processing.
Parents should provide support and guidance at home, while teachers and school guidance counselors should help students deal with emotional and behavioral concerns, he said.
DepEd, however, continues to face a shortage of guidance counselors, partly because of the Philippine Regulation Commission’s requirement that counselors hold a master’s degree.
Angara said the department is willing to provide salaries for guidance counselors but is exploring other ways to strengthen psychosocial and learner-support services in schools.
One option is the establishment of learning formation officers, which could involve one or several teachers being assigned to provide additional support to students.
Angara was in Eastern Visayas for several engagements, including the JRTF8-ELCAC meeting hosted by Biliran province on August 10 and the Samar Day celebration in Catbalogan City on August 11, where he served as guest speaker.
TACLOBAN CITY — More than 2,000 additional guidance counselors could be deployed to public schools nationwide under a proposed P802-million allocation in the 2027 national budget, aimed at strengthening mental health and student support services.
House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan said Sunday, August 23, that the proposed funding would create 2,021 positions under the Department of Education (DepEd).
The allocation would cover 1,800 school counselor associate I positions and 221 school division counselor positions.
Libanan said the additional personnel are needed amid growing concerns over student mental health, bullying and school violence, emphasizing the importance of early intervention and professional support for learners experiencing emotional or psychological difficulties.
The proposal comes after two fatal school shooting incidents in less than two months, including the June 22 attack at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City that left three students dead and 20 others injured, and the Aug. 18 shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University that killed a student and the assailant.
“These incidents show why we must invest not only in physical security but also in the emotional and psychological support available to our students,” Libanan said.
He also called on private elementary and high schools to strengthen their investments in professional guidance and counseling services, saying the well-being of children is a shared responsibility.
ALKANSSSYA PROGRAM. DSWD regional office and Social Security System officials lead the launch of the 4Ps AlkanSSSya Program in Tacloban City on Aug. 18, 2026. The initiative aims to help Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries build financial security by encouraging savings and enrollment in the SSS as self-employed members. (Photo courtesy of DSWD-8)
ALKANSSSYA PROGRAM. DSWD regional office and Social Security System officials lead the launch of the 4Ps AlkanSSSya Program in Tacloban City on Aug. 18, 2026. The initiative aims to help Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries build financial security by encouraging savings and enrollment in the SSS as self-employed members. (Photo courtesy of DSWD-8)
TACLOBAN CITY — Thousands of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries in Eastern Visayas will be encouraged to build financial protection through a savings and social insurance program launched by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Social Security System (SSS).
The DSWD regional office officially launched the 4Ps AlkanSSSya Program on Aug. 18 in Tacloban City, providing beneficiaries with an opportunity to become self-employed SSS members and gain access to social insurance benefits.
The initiative is a joint effort of the DSWD and SSS to make social insurance more accessible to 4Ps beneficiaries and help strengthen their long-term financial security.
The launch was attended by DSWD Assistant Regional Director for Operations Artemio Bautista, 4Ps Management Division Chief Paula Unay, Tacloban City Links, other DSWD personnel and 4Ps beneficiaries from Barangays 62, 62-B and 64.
James Po, Corporate Executive Officer II of the SSS Tacloban Branch, introduced the AlkanSSSya Program during the activity, while Social Security Officer III Crestian Jaca conducted the orientation and explained the enrollment process.
SSS personnel also provided technical assistance to beneficiaries in enrolling and updating their SSS accounts.
Under the program, beneficiaries are encouraged to set aside small amounts from their personal earnings daily or weekly. The savings are pooled through organized groups, such as Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations, and remitted to the SSS monthly.
Enrolled beneficiaries are registered with the SSS as self-employed members and are required to pay their premiums using income from their livelihoods.
The 4Ps cash grants cannot be used to pay SSS premiums because these are intended by law for health, education and rice subsidies.
By maintaining active SSS membership, beneficiaries can access the standard benefits available to SSS members, providing them with financial assistance during qualifying contingencies.
The program will be rolled out in municipalities across Eastern Visayas as part of efforts to promote financial literacy, expand social protection and help vulnerable families withstand financial shocks without falling back into poverty.
Five remarkable Eastern Visayans whose expertise, innovation,
and dedication are helping advance the region’s development.
Five remarkable Eastern Visayans whose expertise, innovation, and dedication are helping advance the region’s development.
Beyond its breathtaking landscapes, Eastern Visayas is also home to exemplary individuals whose expertise helps create solutions, open opportunities, and move the region forward. To recognize those whose work has made a lasting impact, the Department of Tourism Region VIII, in partnership with Tingog Partylist, held the inaugural Outstanding Eastern Visayan Awards last July 31.
This second feature spotlights five Outstanding Eastern Visayans in Education and Research; Entrepreneurship and Innovation; Health and Medicine; Media, Journalism and Communications; and Science, Technology and Engineering.
Delivering Healthcare Where It’s Needed Most
Dr. Aileen T. Riel-Espina, recipient of the Outstanding Eastern Visayan for Health and Medicine, has dedicated her career to building systems and solutions to make healthcare more accessible for communities in need.
When Typhoon Yolanda struck the region in 2013, only one hospital in Tacloban was left standing. She helped keep it running by leading disaster response, coordinating triage, managing scarce resources, and facilitating international medical teams. For her efforts, she received the Unsung Hero of Yolanda Award from the Secretary of Health.
Her commitment to healthcare began long before the storm. In 2004, she established the region’s first accredited Family and Community Medicine residency program at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC), training doctors to work in rural and underserved areas. She also helped pass the legislation that doubled EVRMC’s bed capacity from 250 to 500.
In 2017, she brought the same approach to Northern Samar, where every graduate passed their board exams and chose to stay and serve in the province. The program was later replicated in Sorsogon and featured in Frontiers in Medicine, a leading open-access medical journal, as a model for other low- and middle-income countries.
Her work gained global recognition in 2018 when she was appointed as chair of the WONCA Working Party on Women in Family Medicine and elected as Executive Member at Large of the WONCA Asia Pacific Regional Council. In 2023, she was elected as Honorary Secretary of the same council, and in March this year she was elected by unanimous vote as President-Elect of the WONCA Asia Pacific Region. She will assume the Regional Presidency in 2027 at the closing ceremony of the WONCA World Conference in Cape Town, South Africa.
Throughout her career, Dr. Riel-Espina has shown that improving healthcare is not only about treating patients; it is also about building the people and systems that allow communities to receive care when they need it most.
A Mentor Making a Mark on the World
The true impact of Outstanding Eastern Visayan for Education and Research Dr. Janet Alexis A. De los Santos’ work can be seen in the lives she has shaped, the communities she has served, and the global pride she has brought to the entire region.
A recipient of the 2025 Civil Service Commission National Semi-Finalist Dangal ng Bayan Award: Gawad Lingkod Bayani, the 2024 CSC Regional Pagasa Award, the Vicente Teves Locsin, Jr. Research and Scholarship in Nursing Award of the International Association of Human Caring, and the Southeast Asia Bioethics Network (SEABION) Research Fellowship Grant, Dr. De los Santos built a career devoted to service as a nurse educator, researcher, and public health advocate.
She holds national positions in scientific groups such as the National Research Council of the Philippines, Section Chair of Public Health under the Medical Science Division, Executive Secretary of the Philippine One Health University Network, and an esteemed member of the House of Delegates of the Philippine Nurses Association, apart from her voluntary work as Chair of the Nurse Researcher Experts Pool of PNA VIII.
She earned global recognition as the only scientist from an Eastern Visayan state university or higher education institution to be among the World’s Top 2% Scientists by Elsevier-Stanford from 2023 to 2025. With 54 publications and 6,000+ Google Scholar citations, her research on HIV stigma, mental health, nursing education, and public health has reached far beyond the region.
Her most enduring impact lives on in the people she has guided and served. In 2023 she was awarded the National Winner for Best Mentor in Health Research by DOST-PCHRD. Her research has also found its way back to the communities that inspire it. She worked with the Department of Health Regional Office VIII and municipalities across Leyte to strengthen the skills of Barangay Health Workers in providing stigma-free HIV care. Her continuing research work on diseases reflects a commitment to making science research useful where it matters most.
Advancing Science in the Region
Dr. Ea Kristine Clarisse B. Tulin-Escueta, an Outstanding Eastern Visayan in Science, Technology, and Engineering, is advancing science and opening doors for the next generation of scientists.
After earning her Chemistry degree from Visayas State University (VSU), she received a Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship for her master’s and doctorate in Japan, then became the first VSU researcher to complete a postdoctoral research fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center–Harvard Medical School.
There, she conducted research in glycobiology and biomedical science, exploring areas such as antibodies, cancer biomarkers, and diagnostics. Her work has been published and presented at scientific conferences locally and abroad, including in Japan and the United States. Despite opportunities abroad, she chose to return home to teach and lead research at VSU, where she now serves as Assistant Professor IV. She mentors young scientists and builds collaborations that expand opportunities for researchers in the region.
For her, science should not stay in the lab. In 2020, she founded Experiments in Art, turning scientific images into visual art to make research more engaging and accessible. She also advocates for a “Science Island” in Leyte, aiming to bring academe, government, industry, and communities together to address regional challenges through innovation.
By bringing her experience home, Dr. Tulin-Escueta is helping strengthen scientific research in the region while creating new opportunities for the next generation.
Bringing Innovation Home
The path to innovation has taken certified public accountant and Outstanding Eastern Visayan for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Gilbert T. Trinchera, far beyond Eastern Visayas. Yet, wherever his work takes him, he remains dedicated to using what he has learned to help move his home region forward.
Trinchera’s work in technology, digital transformation, cybersecurity, and governance has placed him at the forefront of initiatives shaping modern organizations. He has led over 50 advisory engagements across the Philippines and Asia-Pacific, working with institutions such as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Philippine Statistics Authority, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). In 2026, he joined global leaders and experts at the ADB Annual Meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to discuss how technology and innovation can support sustainable development.
Trinchera turned his global exposure into local impact. He spoke at over 30 national and international forums, engaging an estimated 5,000 professionals, executives, and students. He has mentored over 100 emerging leaders and taught more than 500 accountancy and business students in Eastern Visayas.
Perhaps his most meaningful contribution is the bridge he continues to build between global knowledge and local opportunity. By bringing innovation, expertise, and new possibilities closer to home, he is helping build a more connected, capable, and future-ready Eastern Visayas.
A Voice to Inspire a Generation of Storytellers
For years, Outstanding Eastern Visayan for Media, Journalism, and Communications Dr. Michael Jude T. Casaljay has empowered young voices from Sta. Margarita, Samar to become credible storytellers reaching audiences across the nation.
A recipient of the 2018 Ulirang Guro and Pambansang Ulirang Guro for Eastern Visayas, the 2018 Avant-Garde School Paper Adviser of the Philippines, and the 2013 Outstanding School Paper Adviser of the Philippines. His record shows his commitment as an educator, campus journalism mentor, and school leader. Under his mentorship, through the SuratAram: School-Based Campus Journalism and Broadcast Excellence Development Program, which he started in 2006, three students were named Outstanding Campus Journalists of the Philippines. His coaching helped the Clarencio Calagos Memorial School of Fisheries (CCMSF) teams win 11 consecutive titles in Radio Broadcasting and 4 in TV Broadcasting at the National Schools Press Conference.
As the school principal, Dr. Casaljay’s leadership helped CCMSF Senior High School be recognized as the Most Effective Senior High School Implementer in Region VIII for three consecutive school years. Beyond medals and citations, his greatest legacy lies in the students who carried his lessons into their professional lives. One of his former mentees went on to become a DZMM Teleradyo news anchor, and another a coach of Region VIII’s champion Radio Broadcasting Filipino Team at the 2026 National Schools Press Conference.
Dubbed the “Living Legend in Radio Scriptwriting and Broadcasting in the Region,” Dr. Casaljay has helped generations of young Eastern Visayans find their voices and use them to uphold the truth with integrity and purpose.
Expertise Shaping the Future of the Region
These five Outstanding Eastern Visayans may have carved different paths, but they are united by a shared purpose: turning their knowledge, skills, and experience into meaningful contributions. Their work shows how people can become changemakers by creating solutions, opening opportunities, and inspiring local communities for generations to come.
Their stories remind us that the strength of a region is also built by people who share what they know and use it to create possibilities for others. Through their work, they are helping strengthen the people, communities, and institutions that will shape the future of Eastern Visayas.
