TACLOBAN CITY — Hundreds of families and all barangays in Tacloban City received government assistance on April 29, as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the distribution of rice aid and direct funding support during a visit to the Tacloban City Convention Center.
The event highlighted the rollout of the Bagong Pilipinas Rice Program under the Local Government Support Fund–Financial Assistance to Local Government Units (LGSF-FALGU), where 500 families each received 10 kilograms of high-quality rice.

The program is part of the administration’s efforts to strengthen food security and improve the delivery of basic services amid rising living costs.

Marcos underscored the importance of ensuring that government aid reaches communities quickly and efficiently, especially as households continue to face economic pressures.
Also launched was the Bawat Barangay Makikinabang Program under the Socio-Civic Projects Fund (SCPF), which provides direct financial assistance to barangays nationwide.
In Tacloban, all 138 barangays received P200,000 each. Half of the amount is allocated for education support and the rest for priority community projects identified by barangay officials, including infrastructure improvements, health services, and disaster preparedness initiatives.

The program also includes the Bagong Pilipinas Barangay Scholars component, which grants a P20,000 “finisher fund” to selected graduating college students. In Tacloban, 690 students were identified as beneficiaries to help support their completion of college degrees.

Officials said the initiative aims to reduce student dropouts and support at least 200,000 graduating students nationwide by the end of Academic Year 2026–2027.

Local leaders welcomed the programs, saying direct funding to barangays allows for faster and more responsive implementation of community projects.

The assistance rollout also forms part of the government’s broader response to economic challenges, including rising fuel prices and inflation pressures affecting vulnerable sectors such as transport workers, low-income families, and returning overseas Filipino workers.

Marcos’ visit underscored the national government’s push for grassroots-level development, with barangays serving as key channels for delivering public services.

(LIZBETH ANN A.ABELLA)

BAYBAY CITY– The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office and Visayas State University (VSU) based this city have partnered to boost the implementation of the government’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) in Eastern Visayas through a formal memorandum of agreement.

The agreement seeks to enhance capacity-building and livelihood development initiatives for SLP beneficiaries by tapping the technical expertise and academic resources of VSU.
DSWD-8 Regional Director Grace Subong said the partnership is crucial in strengthening program delivery, noting that collaboration with academic institutions helps fill gaps in technical support.

“We cannot implement a program alone. We need partners,” Subong said, adding that VSU was chosen for its strong research and extension capabilities.

The partnership also aims to support education, health-related initiatives, and micro-enterprise development to help beneficiaries become more active participants in the local economy.

DSWD said the collaboration is expected to improve service delivery and expand opportunities for SLP participants through strengthened institutional support and technical assistance.

Present during the signing were VSU President Prose Ivy Yepes, Vice President for Research, Extension and Innovation Santiago Peña, Extension Director Catherine Arradanza, and SLP officials from DSWD.

(RONALD O. REYES)

TACLOBAN CITY — The National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) has reduced the training fee for its training course for assessors (IMO Model Course 3.12), aiming to make advanced maritime education more accessible to Filipino seafarers and instructors.

Starting May 1, 2026, the course fee was lowered from P11,400 to P8,000.

NMP Executive Director Victor Del Rosario said the adjustment is intended to support the continuous professional development of maritime professionals while strengthening their global competitiveness.

“This initiative is more than just a discount—it is a strategic advancement in strengthening the global competitiveness of Filipino maritime professionals,” Del Rosario said, adding that the move helps ensure equitable access to internationally aligned training programs.

The 10-day training course for assessors is designed to develop competent maritime assessors who can properly administer and monitor seafarer evaluations in line with the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW).

According to NMP, the program plays a key role in maintaining the integrity of Philippine maritime certifications by producing qualified assessors aligned with international standards.

Del Rosario also thanked the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), led by Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, for supporting the initiative to make maritime training more affordable.

He said the program reflects NMP’s continued commitment to supporting Filipino seafarers, often referred to as modern-day heroes, by removing financial barriers to career advancement.

(RONALD O. REYES)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) has started the nationwide distribution of abaca spindle stripping machines to farmer associations, aiming to modernize fiber processing and improve productivity in the country’s abaca industry.

In Eastern Visayas, PhilFIDA’s Technical Assistance Division and Fiber Engineering Section are allocating a total of 250 units nationwide, with 33 units earmarked for the region as part of the initial rollout.

Of the regional allocation, 15 units were turned over in Mondragon, Northern Samar on April 27, 2026, while 18 units were distributed at the Eastern Visayas Regional Fiber Experiment Station in Abuyog, Leyte on April 30, 2026.

The machines will be further distributed to farmer groups across the region, with allocations of eight units for Northern Samar, five for Eastern Samar, two for Samar, five for Biliran, nine for Leyte, and four for Southern Leyte.

PhilFIDA said the introduction of the machines is expected to improve fiber extraction efficiency, enhance abaca quality, and increase farmers’ income by reducing manual labor and processing time.

To ensure proper handling and sustainability, a one-day training was conducted by supplier Erin-Marty Fabricators Co., Inc., covering machine operation, maintenance, and basic troubleshooting for beneficiaries.

The distribution activity was led by PhilFIDA Region VIII’s Technical Assistance Unit under Jonathan M. Reambonanza, with support from provincial fiber officers, property officer Imelda P. Tan, and local government representatives under OIC Regional Director Joseph S. Salas.

PhilFIDA said the program supports efforts to strengthen Eastern Visayas’ position as one of the country’s leading abaca-producing regions.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)