TACLOBAN CITY — The Ormoc City government, in partnership with national agencies, has extended cash incentives to hundreds of senior citizens, including a 100-year-old resident who received special recognition under the Expanded Centenarians Act of 2024.

Among the beneficiaries was Sinforiana Martin, a centenarian from District 19 along Bonifacio Street, who was awarded P100,000 from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and an additional P20,000 from the Ormoc City local government unit in recognition of her milestone age. Martin was born on August 20, 1925.

The awarding ceremony for Martin was attended by Sangguniang Panlungsod Member Caren Torres Rama, chairperson of the Committee on Social Services, Population Management, and Vulnerable Sectors, along with representatives from the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) led by Amelita Villanueva, and personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

In a separate activity held at the Ormoc City Hall lobby, cash incentives were also formally distributed to Filipino octogenarian, nonagenarian, and centenarian senior citizens in the city.

A total of 439 senior citizens received incentives under Republic Act No. 11982, or the Expanded Centenarians Act of 2024, which grants P10,000 to Filipinos upon reaching milestone ages of 80, 85, 90, and 95.

The distribution was facilitated by OSCA staff headed by Villanueva, in coordination with the city government and the DSWD, as part of ongoing efforts to honor, support, and recognize the contributions of Ormoc City’s elderly population.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

Catarman N. Samar– Rehabilitation, reconstruction, and upgrading works along portions of the Allen–Catarman Road, particularly the national highway section in Brgy. Old Rizal, Catarman, Northern Samar, have officially commenced as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)- Northern Samar 1st District Engineering office continues its efforts to mitigate road flooding and prevent frequent road closures in the area.

The project, with a total allocation of P105.063 million funded under FY 2025, involves the construction of a four-lane road with a total length of 1.246 kilometers. The scope of work includes 22,143.41 cubic meters road embankment, slope protection using stone masonry on both sides, and the construction of concrete canal on both sides.

District Engineer Alvin A. Ignacio said the road section is highly prone to flooding during heavy rains, often causing traffic delays and road closures during inclement weather, making the upgrade necessary.

“With the commencement of this project, motorists can now expect a hassle-free and more convenient travel even during heavy downpours,” DE Ignacio said.

In an interview, Punong Barangay Estanislao M. De Silva Jr. expressed gratitude for the project, citing its significant benefits to their community and nearby areas.

“Dako sine an benepisyo sine nga project about san kanal,sayod man an bug-os nga Catarmanon nga an Barangay Old Rizal permi iton siya ginbabaha.Yana kay ada na iton nga project,iton yana makakabulig san Barangay Old Rizal ngan deri la sa barangay Old Rizal an mga nalabay didi sa barangay Old Rizal. Deri na sira Kurian ngadto sa pagtabok ngadto sa Catarman or sa Catarman pagtabok ngadto parte sa primero distrito.Sanhi, pag dako an uran,naapo an tubig dida,dre nakaka-agi an mga sarakyan labi na kun makusog gud an uran. Pati an mga taga brgy. Old Rizal apektado gud liwat,maski an iba nga barangay nga apiki sa barangay old rizal an pagtabok ngadto sa Catarman or pagkadto sa Allen.Pag nagbabaha dida siton, nagkakayaon kami mga “sibit” lalo na ang Old Rizal kay positive sa Schistos omiasis..Sayo liwat iton, mao am request sa gobyerno nga mabuligan unta kami about siton nga kanal,yana kay ad ana iton siguro ko maiibsan na yana an mga ginsusugad na Schistosomiasis.Pag nag-babaha liwat dida tikang sa may Norsamelco ngadto sa FMB, deri nakakatabok dida an sarakyan.ada la sir ana-stambay,danay 2-3 days hasta sa paghupa niya sa baha.Kunta ma-implement sin maupay iton dida nga project para maka-benepisyo an taga brgy. Old Rizal ngan an bug-os nga lumalabay nga kalsada.An pag-Upgrade sa kalsada, medyo maupay liwat nga ma-upgrade liwat kay para gud an transportasyon labi na mayaon ginsusugad nga relief,masayon dire na ma-stranded siton doon.” Punong Barangay De Silva said.

Once completed, the project is expected to provide the traveling public with a wider, safer, and faster route leading to Catarman, the capital town of Northern Samar.

(ANALIZA A. PABIA/PR)

In Eastern Samar

TACLOBAN CITY — Continuous rains brought by a shear line have caused widespread flooding and forced evacuations in several towns in Eastern Samar, affecting more than 26,000 residents, according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).

In its Situational Report No. 2, the PDRRMO said 8,118 families or 26,252 individuals were affected in seven local government units: Jipapad, Maslog, Dolores, Can-avid, Borongan City, Llorente, and Balangiga.

Of the affected population, 122 families or 442 individuals were displaced, with seven families, composed of 24 individuals, currently staying in an evacuation center in Jipapad.
The PDRRMO also reported landslides in several barangays in Taft and Borongan City. While most affected areas have already been cleared and are now passable, Barangay Benowangan in Borongan City remains impassable due to soil collapse.

Flooding was reported in at least 39 barangays across Jipapad, Maslog, Dolores, Taft, Borongan City, Salcedo, Maydolong, and San Julian. In some areas of Jipapad, floodwaters rose to chest level, while several roads and bridges remain impassable.

Despite the extent of flooding, authorities said no damage has been reported so far to houses, agriculture, livestock, or poultry. There have also been no reports of deaths, injuries, or missing persons, and power and communication services across the province remain operational.

As a precautionary measure amid continuing rainfall, Governor Ralph Vincent Evardone ordered the suspension of classes at all levels, both public and private, across Eastern Samar on Monday, January 5, 2026, through an executive order.

The province has been placed under Blue Alert Status, with the PDRRMO activating its Emergency Operations Center and placing emergency response teams on standby as monitoring continues.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)