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DSWD distributes emergency cash transfer to 345 families in Calbayog City

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TACLOBAN CITY — A total of 345 families affected by Typhoon Opong received financial aid through the Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office.

The assistance, amounting to P1.60 million was distributed by the agency’s ‘Angels in Red Vests’ to affected families from the towns of Almagro and Sto. Niño in Samar. Each beneficiary received P10,106 for totally damaged houses and P5,216 for partially damaged houses, to help them recover and rebuild after the storm.

The ECT distribution is part of DSWD’s continuing efforts to provide swift financial support to disaster-hit families across Eastern Visayas. Tropical Storm Opong, which struck on September 26, 2025, displaced many households and disrupted livelihoods in Samar.

The DSWD reaffirmed its commitment to prioritize the welfare and recovery of affected communities, guided by its advocacy that “every life is valuable.”

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

Eastern Samar fisherfolk receive P4.4 million in livelihood support from BFAR-SAAD

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TACLOBAN CITY — Sixteen organized fisherfolk associations across Eastern Samar received livelihood support this quarter under the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – Special Area for Agricultural Development (BFAR-SAAD) Phase 2, totaling P4.42 million.

The Provincial Program Management Support Office (PPMSO) delivered the assistance as part of the program’s commitment to empowering marginalized fishing communities.
Six associations, including Abejao Fisherfolk Association and Butig Aqua Farmers Association (Salcedo), received 35,000 milkfish fingerlings and 1,031 bags of aqua feeds to boost milkfish production. Nine other associations, including TULIMATAFA and United Farmers and Fisherfolk Association (Maslog), were given 59,000 tilapia fingerlings and 493 bags of aqua feeds to strengthen fishpond operations.

The Gigoso Fisherfolk Association of Giporlos received Php 2 million worth of lambaklad (set-net) fishing gear to enhance their catch capacity and promote sustainable collective fishing.

Provincial Fishery Officer Dan De San Miguel said the interventions reflect BFAR-SAAD’s dedication to improving fisherfolk livelihoods through targeted inputs, technical guidance, and strengthened community participation.

BFAR-SAAD Phase 2 currently assists 29 organized associations in 5th- and 6th-class municipalities of Eastern Samar, many of which are among the province’s poorest, helping bridge the gap between poverty and progress.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

La Routa Adventure Race 2025 kicks off as ARWS Asian Championship in Biliran

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TACLOBAN CITY — The Philippines’ longest-running adventure race returns to the international spotlight as La Routa Adventure Race 2025 officially serves as the Adventure Racing World Series (ARWS) Asian Championship Leg from November 18 to 21.

Jointly organized by the Department of Tourism(DOT-8) together with the provincial government of Biliran, and Bukid Outdoor Shop, the event reinforces Eastern Visayas’ growing reputation as a premier host for world-class adventure sports.

First held from 2000 to 2010 and revived in 2019, La Routa gained global recognition after hosting its first ARWS Asian Championship in 2023.

This year, 12 elite teams from Malaysia, India, Japan, the Czech Republic, and the Philippines will tackle a 300-kilometer, four-day nonstop course that combines navigation, mountain biking, paddling, trekking, and strategic decision-making.

Race Director and DOT VIII Regional Director Karen Tiopes said 80% of the route has been redesigned, featuring a cross-country jungle trail and sections inspired by traditional Filipino games, blending endurance with culture.

“This is the second time Biliran has hosted the ARWS Asian Championship Leg,” Tiopes said. “It reflects the race’s quality, the organizers’ commitment, and Biliran’s exceptional terrain for global adventure athletes.”

The event also draws international supporters, including a 13-member team from Japan’s NHK TV. After four grueling days, one team will claim the 2025 championship title and a spot in the 2026 ARWS World Championship.

“May this journey challenge and reward you with unforgettable stories and new friendships. Welcome to La Routa 2025, welcome to Biliran—and let the adventure begin,” Tiopes added.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

DSWD Sec. Gatchalian distributes cash, aid to ‘Tino’ survivors in Southern Leyte

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Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian leads the distribution of emergency cash assistance to Typhoon Tino victims in Southern Leyte.(DSWD-EASTERN VISAYAS)
Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian leads the distribution of emergency cash assistance to Typhoon Tino victims in Southern Leyte.(DSWD-EASTERN VISAYAS)

TACLOBAN CITY — Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian led the distribution of relief assistance to families affected by Typhoon Tino in Hinunangan, Southern Leyte.

A total of 445 residents whose houses were totally destroyed received P10,000 cash each, along with family food packs, drinking water, and non-food items. The assistance forms part of the agency’s recovery intervention for typhoon victims.

“The President sent me here to ensure that all typhoon victims will be assisted and to let you know that you are not alone. The government is here to help you,” Gatchalian told residents during the cash distribution held on Nov. 14.

The secretary added that financial aid will also be extended to households with partially damaged houses — not only in Hinunangan but across Southern Leyte. Each recipient will receive P5,000.

Based on data from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the province recorded 6,697 totally damaged houses and 21,862 partially damaged houses. DSWD said funding for remaining beneficiaries is now being prepared.

Gatchalian also assured continued provision of food packs and non-food items such as hygiene and kitchen kits. “We have enough food packs in our warehouses, and we will continue to assist as long as LGUs need it,” he said.

Typhoon Tino, which battered Southern Leyte on November 4, affected 232,534 residents and displaced 110,323 individuals, many of whom remain in evacuation centers. Power and telecommunications remain down in several municipalities, particularly those facing the Pacific and the Panaon area.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

Northern Samar ports to get P224M upgrade with Allen wharf as key project

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PORTS CONSTRUCTION. New seaports are to be constructed in selected areas in Northern Samar by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) with a total cost of P224.5 million. DOTr personnel held a meeting with Gov. Christopher Harris Ongchuan on this endeavor. (THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF NORTHERN SAMAR)
PORTS CONSTRUCTION. New seaports are to be constructed in selected areas in Northern Samar by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) with a total cost of P224.5 million. DOTr personnel held a meeting with Gov. Christopher Harris Ongchuan on this endeavor.
(THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF NORTHERN SAMAR)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is set to implement a P224.25 million worth of wharf and port development projects in Northern Samar, with the construction of the Allen Municipal Wharf emerging as a centerpiece initiative.
During a courtesy visit on November 12, DOTr officials Gemma Almanzar and Adelio Tagadtad briefed Governor Harris Ongchuan on the province’s maritime infrastructure program, aimed at improving passenger movement, cargo handling, and inter-island connectivity.

Among seven ongoing and proposed projects, the Allen Municipal Wharf is a critical priority. Once completed, it is expected to enhance access to major inter-island routes, ensure safer and more efficient vessel operations, reduce travel time, and support the flow of essential goods and services.

The projects form part of the DOTr Port Systems Program, which also covers Mualbual and Laoang Ports in Laoang, Mapanas Port, the rehabilitation of San Jose Port, and Phase 1 of Paninirongan Port and Wharf in Pambujan.

These developments are anchored on a 2024 memorandum of agreement between DOTr, the provincial government, and host LGUs. The San Isidro Wharf in Barangay San Roque, completed in July 2024, is already operational, serving passengers and cargo vessels and boosting local trade.

Governor Ongchuan emphasized the importance of wharfs as “vital lifelines” for island-dependent communities and thanked DOTr and Congressman Edwin Ongchuan for their support.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

Hopeless recovery attempts

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Given the current state of affairs, the billions lost to corruption in flood control projects cannot be recovered, and the nation is aware of this. Apparently, the very people who had direct oversight of these funds cannot credibly distance themselves from the scandal, no matter how hard they try.

The allocations did not slip quietly into the budget. They were inserted under the close and deliberate watch of the former House Speaker and the President, both of whom were fully aware of how these funds moved from proposal to release. Given their central roles, any claim of ignorance is undermined by the budgetary process itself, which demands scrutiny and approval at every stage. These billions did not appear by accident; they were shepherded through a system controlled by the highest political hands.

This is precisely why no mastermind has been prosecuted. The architects of the scheme allegedly sit at the top of the political hierarchy, shielded not by law but by their own power. When suspects and investigators breathe the same political air, accountability becomes a distant dream. The scandal survives not because evidence is lacking but because the culprits occupy the very seats that should have pursued justice with vigor.

In such an environment, the idea of recovering the stolen funds is nothing but a hollow fantasy. Once public money is siphoned off and dispersed through networks designed to erase the trail, the government stands no chance of recovering it. Years will pass, testimonies will fade, and the coffers will remain empty while the perpetrators thrive. The country has seen this pattern before—grand theft followed by prolonged silence—and the current scandal follows the same script with chilling precision.

What remains is the urgent need for structural reckoning. Independent oversight bodies must be empowered to investigate even the highest officials without fear or interference. Budget insertions must be publicly itemized, audited in real time, and subjected to mandatory transparency safeguards. Without such reforms, every peso allocated to public works will remain vulnerable to plunder, and every scandal will end the same way—no accountability, no recovery, and no justice.

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