TACLOBAN CITY– Calling for public vigilance, the Regional Alternative Child Care Office (RACCO) in Eastern Visayas is intensifying its campaign against online child trafficking, urging citizens to report explicit online and social media content exploiting children.
RACCO recently intercepted two child trafficking incidents, one in Northern Samar and another in Dagami, Leyte.

Authorities rescued an infant and a toddler from illegal baby selling in San Roque, Northern Samar, and two siblings from a trafficking incident in Barangay Guinarona, Dagami, Leyte. The victims are now in shelters awaiting adoption.

Josamae Sedillo, RACCO officer-in-charge, said the agency is providing a robust and accessible legal adoption framework to reduce the appeal of illicit online child adoption channels and combat trafficking facilitated through social media.

RACCO continues to collaborate with law enforcement, educational institutions and local communities to strengthen prevention and response capabilities, Sedillo said.

She emphasized the crucial role of public support in reporting trafficking activities and preventing improper adoption procedures.

“The public is our best source for information, so we are tapping their help,” Sedillo said.
RACCO also promotes its core functions, including streamlined adoption and alternative childcare processes, as mandated by Republic Act 11642.

The agency handles the issuance of Certification Declaring a Child Legally Available for Adoption (CDCLAA), domestic administrative adoption, inter-country adoption, foster care, rectification of simulated birth pursuant to Republic Act 11222, and other forms of alternative care.

RACCO is now responsible for adoption cases withdrawn from court, new administrative adoption petitions, new adoptive parent applications, inter-country adoption clearance, foster care and simulated birth rectification procedures, disrupted pre-adoptive placement procedures, adoption order registration, adoption rescission petitions, and travel clearances for cases under the National Authority for Child Care (NACC) jurisdiction.

(ACR/PIA Leyte)

In Northern Samar

ORMOC CITY – A drug personality listed as a street level individual (SLI) in the local police’s drug watchlist voluntarily surrendered to authorities at 10 am on March 26, 2025, at the San Isidro Municipal Police Station (MPS) in Brgy. Poblacion Sur, San Isidro, Northern Samar.

Police identified the surrenderee as alias “Relan,” 28, a farmer and resident of Purok 8, Brgy. Alegria.

According to San Isidro police, Relan surrendered following a visit from police operatives conducting Oplan Tokhang, a campaign encouraging drug suspects to voluntarily cooperate with authorities.

He underwent documentation, booking, and mugshots before executing an affidavit of undertaking, expressing his willingness to cooperate by providing information on illegal drug activities.

After completing the process, Relan was allowed to return home.

(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has cited the Biliran’s childcare facility Bahay Pag-Asa Center for achieving Level 3 accreditation, the first institution of its kind in the country to receive this recognition.

The Level 3 accreditation is given to a child-caring institution like those for Child in Conflict with the Law (CICL) that has met the highest standard in key areas, including governance, case management, intervention programs, and sustainable management for rehabilitation programs dedicated to CICL.

Republic Act 9344, otherwise known as the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, mandates provinces and highly urbanized cities to have a Bahay Pag-asa Center, accredited number as which is about 114 as of end-2023, acccording to the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC).

Lissa Bermillo, provincial social welfare and development officer, said on Monday that among the strategies they made was the prioritization of staff training and strong linkages with medical professionals for psychological interventions of its residents.

She added that since they have reached Level 3, they will sustain the technical assistance given by the JJWC and the Biliran provincial government.

“Despite these achievements, we still need to regularize the staff in the center. That’s the goal. Our facilities also need to be improved, making the structure better and providing a sufficient covered recreational area,” Bermillo said.

The structural improvement is meant to prevent runaway cases, which the center has encountered albeit minimal, she said.

The local government built the center in Larrazabal village in Naval, Biliran, in 201 for CICLs facing rape, murder, and theft charges.

Currently, the center shelters 10 CICLs who are still undergoing mitigation.

The Bahay Pag-Asa is a 24-hour child-caring institution, providing short-term residential care for children aged above 15 but below 18, and who are awaiting court disposition of their cases or transfer to other agencies or jurisdictions.

(with reports from Christian Dave Noseñas & Cherry Mae Tabuena, OJTs/PNA)

TACLOBAN CITY– In November 2024, Eastern Visayas registered a balance of trade in goods (BoT-G) at USD -200.12 million. This widened the region’s trade deficit from USD -8.16 million in the same month of 2023.

Meanwhile, external trade in goods amounted to USD 570.16 million in November 2024. This indicated a 7.4 percent increase compared with the USD 530.98 million total trade in November 2023.

Of the total external trade in November 2024, 32.5 percent were exported goods, while 67.5 were imported goods.

The total export value in November 2024 was USD 185.02 million, indicating a 29.2 percent annual decline from the USD 261.41 million export in November 2023.

The total volume of goods exported by the region in November 2024 was 78.85 million kilograms, lower by 24.9 percent compared with the 104.93 million kilograms of exports in November 2023. Copper and articles thereof commodity group dominated the export market in November 2024 at USD 125.74 million.

This accounted for more than two-thirds (68.0%) of the total value of exports during the month in review. The People’s Republic of China was the main export market with USD 82.37 million (44.5%) worth of exports in November 2024.

The total import value posted an annual increase of 42.9 percent to USD 385.14 million in November 2024 from the USD 269.57 million import value in November 2023. The total volume of goods imported into the region in November 2024 was 188.42 million kilograms, lower by 18.3 percent than the 230.64 million kilograms in November 2023.

The commodity group of ores, slag and ash valued at USD 355.15 million comprised the bulk (92.2%) of the total value of imports in November 2024.

The major import supplier in November 2024 was Australia with USD 148.59 million or 38.6 percent of the total value of imports. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – A medical team from the Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC) has been deployed to Myanmar to assist in earthquake relief efforts, as part of the Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Team (PEMAT) under the Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent (PIAHC).

According to Department of Health (DOH) spokesperson Albert Domingo, the EVMC team is one of three PEMAT groups recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO), along with teams from Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in Metro Manila and Jose B. Lingad Memorial Hospital in Pampanga.

These teams underwent assessment in clinical management, logistics, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in September 2024.

All three groups are classified as Type 1 Fixed Emergency Medical Teams and are fully prepared for deployment, the DOH said.

Marc Capungcol, DOH central medical officer, expressed pride in the EVMC team, saying they are on a “mission of compassion and service, bringing hope and healing to disaster-stricken communities.”

At least 18 medical personnel from EVMC were deployed to assist the national medical team in Myanmar, he said.

The EVMC sent three doctors with Dr. Ma. Ivy Lozada as the team leader. Other members of the team include nurses, a medical technologist, pharmacist, physical therapist, midwife, nursing attendants, logistics, administrative and finance staff, social worker.

They will stay in Naypyidaw, Myanmar for two weeks.

To recall, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar and Thailand last March 28, with the latest death toll at 3,085 deaths with hundreds remain missing and 4,715 wounded.

(JOHN LORENZ LESIGUEZ, LNU STUDENT INTERN)

TACLOBAN CITY – The ‘Kadiwa ng Pangulo’: Locally Sourced Exhibit, held from March 31 to April 2 at Robinsons North Tacloban, has made a significant impact by directly connecting farmers with consumers, ensuring access to fresh and affordable agricultural products.

Spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture (DA), the event not only helps small-scale farmers, particularly women-led enterprises, but also provides budget-friendly produce such as vegetables, poultry, and rice at just P29 per kilo.

Amid rising food costs, the fair serves as a much-needed initiative benefiting both producers and consumers, agricultural technologist Eliseo Cayrel of the City Agricultural Office said.

“Our farmers face high production costs, and this fair provides them with better market opportunities while ensuring the public can access fresh produce at lower prices,” he said.
More than 10 farmers’ associations from different provinces, including Tacloban, Baybay, Ormoc, and Northern Leyte, participated in the fair, showcasing their products such as pinangat, pili products, chips, cookies, tuba, and other delicacies.

Beyond selling produce, the Department of Agriculture supports farmers by providing seeds, technical training, and business guidance to help sustain their livelihoods.
“The DA is committed to assisting farmers, and there is a strong possibility of holding another Kadiwa Fair next month,” Cayrel disclosed.

Encouraged by the event’s success, the DA is working to further promote the Kadiwa ng Pangulo initiative through media outreach, urging consumers to buy locally sourced products while directly supporting farmers.

(PRINCESS MANZANARES, LNU STUDENT INTERN)