TACLOBAN CITY– The 2025 Women’s Summit in Samar successfully concluded at Tandaya Hall, Capitol Compound, Catbalogan City on March 24, 2025. Around 300 women were served with various assistance and programs by the government.

Led by DTI Samar in collaboration with TESDA Samar, Provincial Local Government Unit (LGU) of Samar, LGU Catbalogan, Samar State University and Philippine Chamber of Commerce Inc. (PCCI) – Catbalogan City, the summit highlighted the resilience, success, and contributions of women across various industries.

The event featured an inspiring opening speech from DTI Samar Provincial Director Meilou Cinco-Macabare, who set the tone for the summit with a powerful message.

“Today, we come together not only as individuals but as a powerful community, each of us bringing our unique experiences and stories,” PD Macabare said.

“Let’s support and uplift each other, fostering an environment where every woman feels seen, heard, and valued,” she added.

The summit showcased several key highlights, demonstrating its impact on employment, entrepreneurship, and skills development.

The Job Caravan, led by PESO Samar, successfully provided immediate employment opportunities, with 17 individuals hired on the spot.

Meanwhile, the Trade Fair for Women Entrepreneurs featured 22 local MSMEs and offered a diverse range of products, generated an impressive sale of P75,580.

Also, 22 aspiring business owners benefited and gained knowledge on essential business skills from the Entrepreneurial Development Training conducted by DTI Samar’s empowered women.

Additionally, TESDA’s free services catered to over 173 individuals, offering personality enhancement services such as haircuts, massages, and manicures/pedicures, further enriching the summit’s success.

The summit fostered collaboration between government agencies, businesses, and advocacy groups, reinforcing the commitment to gender equality and economic empowerment.

DTI Samar extends its gratitude to TESDA Samar, PLGU PESO, LGU Catbalogan, PCCI-Catbalogan City Inc., Cebuana Lhuillier, Plan International, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), DOLE and CSWD for their unwavering support in making this event a success.

As the event ended, attendees left inspired, equipped with new knowledge, and motivated to advance in their respective fields. The Women’s Summit in Samar proved to be more than just an event, it was a movement towards greater inclusivity, support, and empowerment.

(PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Regional Development Council (RDC) in Eastern Visayas has endorsed more than P238.5 billion worth of projects and programs for funding in the 2026 national budget.

The proposed funding is allocated as follows: P177.45 billion for infrastructure projects; P28.35 billion for economic development; P28.28 billion for social development; and P4.4 billion for development administration.

The first-quarter RDC-8 meeting was held on March 27 in Ormoc City, where high-impact and big-ticket projects were approved for endorsement to national agencies for funding consideration.

Among the major infrastructure projects endorsed are the Benjamin Romualdez International Convention Center in Tacloban – P750 million; redevelopment of Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport, including a new terminal – Over P2 billion; seaport in Babatngon, Leyte – Over P930 million; new bridge in Biliran province – P500 million; and the San Juanico Bridge 2 – P9.17 billion.

RDC-8 Chairperson and Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez expressed optimism that these projects will gain national support, particularly from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who personally attended the March 14 RDC-8 meeting in Tacloban City.

“It was the first time a President attended an RDC-8 meeting. During the session, he instructed his Cabinet members to work closely with us,” Gomez said in a media interview.
However, RDC-8 officials acknowledged that not all endorsed projects secure funding.

NEDA-8 Regional Director Maylene Rosales, whose office serves as the RDC secretariat, revealed that in 2025, only P9.2 billion of the P157.4 billion proposed projects received funding.

With the President’s backing and the support of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, RDC-8 hopes that a larger share of its 2026 proposals will receive approval and funding.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

If elected Albuera mayor

ALBUERA, Leyte – Mayoral candidate Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa has pledged to make the fight against illegal drugs his top priority if elected, alongside efforts to improve livelihood opportunities for residents.

Espinosa made this commitment during a press conference on Sunday, March 30, as he officially launched his bid to lead Albuera, a town once labeled as the illegal drug capital of Eastern Visayas.

Espinosa, whose father Rolando Espinosa Sr.—a former mayor—was killed inside his jail cell in Baybay City in 2016 while facing drug-related allegations, said he had already spoken directly with individuals involved in illegal drugs, urging them to stop.

“The presence of illegal drugs in Albuera will be one of my priority programs once I am elected mayor,” Espinosa said at his campaign headquarters, located in front of the municipal hall.

He promised a two-pronged approach: rehabilitating drug users and ensuring that drug pushers face legal consequences.

“I am serious about my goal to clear Albuera of illegal drugs. Those who are using the illegal drugs will be rehabilitated while the drug dealers will be dealt accordingly without involving any killing,” he added.

Beyond the drug issue, Espinosa said he would focus on creating jobs and providing livelihood opportunities to ensure economic stability for Albuera residents.

He vowed to require investors to hire local workers, citing the town’s economic growth as an opportunity for residents to benefit.

He also plans to introduce training programs for individuals who were unable to complete their education, offering courses such as welding and other vocational skills.

“We have many residents here who are not graduates. Perhaps they can be provided with skills training to help them secure jobs,” he said.

Espinosa also promised to protect the town’s municipal waters, ensuring that only Albuera’s fishermen would be allowed to fish there.

Local fishermen, he said, have been competing with those from Ormoc City and Merida, despite a previous agreement allowing them to share the fishing grounds of Ormoc Bay.
“If elected, I will ensure that our local fishermen will have exclusive rights to fish in our own territorial waters,” he emphasized.

Espinosa is running under the ‘Bando Espinosa, Pundok Kausaban’ party, with his younger sister, Mariel, as his vice mayoral candidate.

He is up against incumbent Mayor Sixto de la Victoria and Leyte Board Member Vincent Rama in the May 12, 2025 elections.

Arrested in Abu Dhabi in October 2016, he was extradited to the Philippines and faced charges of illegal drug trading, money laundering, and illegal possession of firearms.
Between 2021 and 2023, several courts dismissed the cases against him due to lack of evidence.

In December 2023, he posted bail of P600,000 before RTC-Branch 14 in Baybay City.
On January 5, 2024, the same court dismissed his remaining drug cases after granting his motion of demurrer, effectively acquitting him.

However, an anti-money laundering complaint remains active before a Pasay court, and the Court of Appeals reopened his drug cases in February 2024, citing due process violations in the original dismissal.

Espinosa, who returned to Albuera last year, is now seeking a political comeback, aiming to reestablish his family’s influence in the town and shed his controversial past.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)