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DAR opens anew scholarship program for dependents of ARBs

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TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is again accepting applications for the DAR Scholarship Program for the Dependents of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (DSP-DARBs).

This scholarship program aims to provide financial support to qualified dependents of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) who are interested in pursuing a four-year agriculture-related course at any state universities and colleges (SUCs).

DAR Eastern Visayas Regional Director, Atty. Robert Anthony Yu, encourages children and other dependents of ARBs to grab this opportunity in achieving their dreams.

To qualify, applicants must possess the following: a legitimate dependent of an ARB with a total gross income of no more than P100,000 per year; a senior high school graduate with a general average grade of at least 83 percent; must have passed the college admission exam administered by the SUC; must not have been convicted of any crime that involves moral turpitude; and must not have any ongoing administrative or criminal case.

Interested parties should fill out the application form and submit it to any DAR office in their area together with the following required documents: certification from the DAR regional or provincial office that the applicant is a qualified dependent of an ARB; Personal Data Sheet (CSC Form 212); authenticated copy or certified machine copy of the birth certificate of the applicant; health certificate issued by a government hospital or physician; barangay clearance; certified photocopy of Form 137 (High School Report Card); statement of commitment and support by the parents or guardian of the applicant; certification of good moral character issued by the high school principal or religious leader in the community; certified true copy of the income tax return (ITR) of applicant’s parents; certificate of rating from the SUC for passing the entrance examination; and certificate of enrolment (if enrolled).

Deadline for the submission of applications is on March 31 this year.

As DSP-DARBs scholar, he/she will receive: P3,000 monthly stipend; P2,000 book allowance for every semester; P500 transportation allowance for every month; P500 lodging allowance for every month; graduation fee not exceeding P5,000; P10,000 thesis allowance, if applicable; and P5,000 summer class allowance for two months.

Yu shared that in Eastern Visayas, there are seven DAR DSP-DARBs scholars who are currently enrolled in different SUCs in the region.

(APRIL ROSE SEVILLANO/PR)

Vote-buying likened to incurable illness, ‘cancer’ of democracy

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TACLOBAN CITY-Vote-selling and vote-buying can be considered as a modern cancer of democracy being compared to an illness that does not heal and hinders the constitutional right of suffrage of every citizen.

This was emphasized by Lawyer Ma. Goretti Caseñas-Cañas, Leyte provincial election supervisor during the meeting of the Committee on “Kontra Bigay” held recently at the Comelec Regional Office conference room in Tacloban City.

With barely two months ahead of the 2025 National and Local Elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Leyte Provincial Office will be conducting a close monitoring of the activities of local candidates as well as voters who may clandestinely practice vote-buying or vote-selling.

For the past elections, complaints about vote-buying or vote-selling were prevalent and perceived by many as a campaign strategy by some candidates.

Political aspirants resorted to some modes of vote-buying such as giving food or cellphone load to voters. But, monetary vote-buying is more popular when elections are so tight and positions are closely contested.

However, Cañas said no one was prosecuted for such offenses last year due to weak evidence and lack of witnesses.

The Comelec deemed it necessary to implement a whole-of-nation approach through the passage of Comelec Resolution No. 11104, thereby expanding more powers and functions to the Committee on “Kontra Bigay” which is composed of various government agencies and other stakeholders accredited as citizens arm of the Comelec.

With the passage of the new rules and guidelines, Cañas believes that it has more teeth now and can be stopped with the help of concerned agencies and other stakeholders before it metastasizes like cancer.

“It cannot be stopped by Comelec alone. It needs the concerted efforts of other government agencies and stakeholders to put an end to this malady,” Cañas said.

By virtue of the said resolution, the Committee has the power to direct and supervise synchronized operations against vote-selling, vote-buying, and abuse of state resources.
The Committee on “Kontra Bigay” will report incidents of vote-buying and vote-selling that are committed “in flagrante delicto” (caught in the act) to the Philippine National Police or Armed Forces of the Philippines having jurisdiction over the place where the alleged offense took place and gather relevant evidence for such activities including abuse of state resources in elections such as corroborated video clips, photographs and audio or visual recordings in relation to the report or complaint filed.

Cañas explained that abuse of state resources refers to the misuse of government resources whether material, human, regulatory, budgetary, media-related, and others for electoral advantage.

As an example, an abuse of state resources occurs when a government vehicle is being used by candidates in their campaign activities.

The committee was first implemented during the Sangguniang Kabataan and Barangay Elections in October 2023.

It is expected that the Committee members in Leyte will start its monitoring activities on March 28, 2025, the start of campaign period for local candidates.

(CBA/PIA Eastern Visayas)

Three more Philippine eagles brought to Leyte for reintroduction program

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AND THEN THERE FOUR. Leyte forests are now home to four eagles. Thanks to the Philippine Eagle Foundation that released three raptors on March 21 at the Mahagnao forest in Burauen. Earlier, the foundation released two eagles, ‘Uswag’ and ‘Carlitos’ with the former found dead in the waters of Baybay City. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
AND THEN THERE FOUR. Leyte forests are now home to four eagles. Thanks to the Philippine Eagle Foundation that released three raptors on March 21 at the Mahagnao forest in Burauen. Earlier, the foundation released two eagles, ‘Uswag’ and ‘Carlitos’ with the former found dead in the waters of Baybay City.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – Three more Philippine Eagles have been transported from Davao City to Burauen, Leyte, as part of an ongoing reintroduction program aimed at increasing the population of the country’s largest and critically endangered raptor in the province.

The three eagles, named as Lakpue, Lyra Sinabadan, and Kalatungan I, will join Carlito in repopulating the dense forests of the Leyte Mountain Range, one of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-designated natural breeding sites for the Philippine Eagle.

To ensure their survival, the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) has developed a modified soft release technique after the unfortunate loss of Uswag, one of the first eagles released in Kagbana village in December 2024. Uswag strayed too far from the release site and drowned at sea.

During the turnover ceremony on March 21, 2025, at the Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park, DENR-8 Regional Executive Director Arturo Salazar emphasized the crucial role of forest protection in the survival of the species.

“Its survival depends on the protection of our forests, and every effort we make to conserve this species is a direct investment in preserving the delicate balance of life,” Salazar said.

The three eagles have been brought to Kagbana village for a three-month acclimation period to familiarize themselves with their new environment before being released into the wild.

According to the PEF, the three birds will play key roles in the repopulation efforts with Lakpue (male) will be introduced as a potential mate for Carlito;
Lyra Sinabadan (female) and Kalatungan I (immature male) will form a cohort bond, living together without mating. However, as Kalatungan I matures, their relationship may evolve into a mating partnership.

The PEF aims to release 16 eagles in the Anonang-Lobi Mountain Range to help restore the Philippine Eagle population in Leyte’s forests.

Currently, there are only about 400 pairs of Philippine Eagles remaining in the wild, making them critically endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

With continued conservation efforts, Leyte could soon become a stronghold for the survival of the country’s national bird.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

Acidre: P900M Samar Island Medical Center, a game-changer for healthcare in Samar

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SAMAR MEDICAL CENTER. The construction of the Samar Medical Center in Calbayog City is now in the full swing. People from Samar provinces need not go to Eastern Visayas Medical Center in Tacloban City for their medical needs once this hospital is operational. (PHOTO COURTESY)
SAMAR MEDICAL CENTER. The construction of the Samar Medical Center in Calbayog City is now in the full swing. People from Samar provinces need not go to Eastern Visayas Medical Center in Tacloban City for their medical needs once this hospital is operational. (PHOTO COURTESY)

TACLOBAN CITY – For the first time, Samar Island will soon have its own tertiary hospital, a long-awaited development for the island’s three provinces that have lacked access to advanced medical care.

Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre emphasized the significance of this milestone, recalling how the healthcare gap in Samar became evident during their campaign years ago.

“Six years ago, when we were campaigning in Samar, we saw firsthand how much this was needed. We knew we had to do something,” Acidre said in a statement.

This urgent need led Rep. Yedda Romualdez to file House Bill 8195, which paved the way for Republic Act 11703, the Samar Island Medical Center Act—the law that turned this vision into reality.

Acidre expressed gratitude to Tingog Party-list and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, whose efforts ensured the hospital’s construction.

“Soon, our fellow Samareños won’t have to travel far for quality healthcare,” Acidre added.
The P900-million Samar Island Medical Center, located in Calbayog City, is set to transform healthcare in the region. Construction began in March 2024, with an initial funding of P477.68 million allocated by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the first phase, which includes the Mother and Child Building.

Acidre emphasized that the hospital is more than just a medical facility—it represents hope, security, and progress for Samar.

With the construction already underway, the dream of bringing accessible and advanced healthcare closer to Samareños is finally becoming a reality.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

Man drowns as shear line triggers widespread flooding in Eastern Samar

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TACLOBAN CITY – A 66-year-old man drowned after his pump boat capsized amid strong currents as a shear line triggered widespread flooding in Eastern Samar on March 20, Thursday.

Authorities identified the fatality as Alberto Campo of Barangay Burak, Llorente, whose body was found three days later on Sunday, March 23, in a river at Sitio Can-ito, Barangay Cantomco around 9:52 a.m., according to the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Llorente.

Campo’s wife, Myla, who survived the incident, said their boat sank around 10 a.m. on Thursday as they were heading home.

Meanwhile, at least 11,531 families, or 45,844 individuals, were affected by the flooding in several towns and Borongan City, according to a report from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).

The affected areas include Taft, San Policarpo, Sulat, Maslog, Can-avid, Maydolong, Dolores, and San Julian, as well as Borongan City. Heavy rains caused rivers to swell, submerging communities and forcing many residents to evacuate.

In response, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region VIII has distributed over 19,000 family food packs to affected families in Taft, Can-avid, San Policarpo, Sulat, and Borongan City.

The agency assured that an additional 125,000 food packs are ready for further relief operations.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

Ormoc City joins global Earth Hour movement to advocate for water conservation

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EARTH HOUR. Ormoc City joined the country in observing Earth Hour on Saturday night. A program was held at the city’s superdome. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
EARTH HOUR. Ormoc City joined the country in observing Earth Hour on Saturday night. A program was held at the city’s superdome. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – Ormoc City took part in the global observance of Earth Hour on Saturday, March 22, through an event led by the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), highlighting the importance of water conservation and environmental sustainability.

With the theme “Switch Off and Secure Water for All,” hundreds of residents gathered at the city’s Superdome to participate in the worldwide campaign. Several business establishments, educational institutions, and organizations also held their own Earth Hour activities in support of the movement.

The event was graced by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Ambassador and CORA founder Antoinette Taus, who delivered a talk on climate change, biodiversity loss, environmental protection, and food waste. She also shared the initiatives her organization is implementing to address these global challenges.

Also present during the program were Councilor Lalaine Marcos, members of the Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO), and representatives from the Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, Department of Education, cause-oriented groups, private organizations, barangay officials, and students.
Earth Hour is an annual global event aimed at raising awareness about environmental conservation, encouraging individuals and communities to take responsibility for combating climate change and promoting sustainable practices.

The campaign started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, and has since grown into a worldwide movement, with over 190 countries and territories participating each year to advocate for the protection, preservation, and conservation of the environment.

Ormoc City’s participation underscores its commitment to sustainability, urging residents and businesses to adopt eco-friendly practices and contribute to global efforts in securing a better future for the planet.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

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