TACLOBAN CITY — Key infrastructure projects in Hilongos town, Leyte are moving forward following a joint monitoring activity conducted by the local government and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Leyte.

The inspection covered the installation of an LED Wall funded under the 2024 Support to the Barangay Development Program and the 2025 Local Government Support Fund–Financial Assistance to Local Government Units (LGSF-FALGU) for a 2.6-kilometer farm-to-market road (FMR) in Barangay San Antonio.

Before the site visits, members of the Local Project Monitoring Committee (LPMC) convened for their first-quarter meeting to review priority projects and align monitoring responsibilities.

During the inspection, DILG engineers and municipal officials examined the LED Wall, which will be used to broadcast emergency hotlines, public advisories, disaster risk reduction updates, and tourism information. The team recommended securing electrical wiring, ensuring continuous operational access, and complying with documentation requirements to sustain the project’s functionality.

The group also assessed the ongoing construction of the farm-to-market road, which includes reinforced concrete pipes, box culverts, slope protection structures, and a line canal to strengthen drainage and durability.

Engineers advised the local government to maintain proper construction documentation, submit updated plans reflecting project adjustments, install a project marker, and ensure proper gradient profiling in sloped sections. They also underscored the importance of promptly uploading required documents to the Subaybayan Portal for transparency and monitoring.

Local officials said the LED Wall will improve access to vital public information, while the farm-to-market road is expected to boost mobility and facilitate the transport of agricultural goods in Barangay San Antonio.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY —Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has filed a measure seeking to grant a P3,000 monthly pension and insurance coverage to elderly, disabled and indigent farmers who are not enrolled in existing government retirement systems.

Under House Bill (HB) No. 7663, or the proposed “Comprehensive Farmers’ Pension and Social Protection Act,” Romualdez aims to provide regular financial support and social protection benefits to farmers considered among the most economically vulnerable sectors.
“The creation of a pension program for qualified elderly farmers is crucial for providing financial security, reducing poverty and ensuring a decent standard of living in their later years,” Romualdez said, noting that many farmers have limited access to stable income and continue working beyond retirement age due to financial necessity.

The measure is co-authored by Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre.

The bill defines an elderly farmer as a qualified farmer aged 60 years and above who is not receiving any pension from the Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), or any private retirement plan.

A disabled farmer refers to one with a medically certified physical or mental impairment that permanently or temporarily prevents the performance of farm work. Meanwhile, an indigent farmer is one officially classified as such by the local government unit based on data collected under the Philippine Statistics Authority in accordance with Republic Act No. 11315, or the Community-Based Monitoring System Act.

The proposal covers individuals primarily and directly engaged in crop production, livestock raising, aquaculture, or other agriculture-related work, whether as landowners, tenants or farm workers.

The bill mandates the Department of Agriculture (DA), in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, to implement the pension and insurance program.

Qualified beneficiaries would receive a P3,000 monthly pension, along with basic life insurance coverage worth P50,000 and accident and disability assistance of up to P25,000 per claim. The DA would also allow direct claims by beneficiaries or household members through accredited banks, cooperatives or remittance centers.

Funding for the program would be sourced from the annual budgets of the DA and DSWD.
The measure further directs the DA and concerned agencies to establish a national database of elderly, indigent and disabled farmers to ensure proper targeting and monitoring of beneficiaries.

To safeguard the integrity of the program, the bill imposes penalties of one month to one year imprisonment, or fines ranging from P10,000 to P100,000, or both, for individuals found guilty of fraud. Public officials involved in irregularities may also face temporary disqualification from holding public office, in addition to administrative and criminal sanctions.

Romualdez said the proposed law seeks to recognize the vital role of farmers in ensuring food security while providing them with much-needed financial stability in times of old age, disability or hardship.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

Deadline is on March 4, 2026

TACLOBAN CITY — At least 144 former rebels and other qualified individuals in Eastern Visayas have applied for the government’s amnesty program following a series of orientation and intake activities conducted across the region in February.

Data from the Local Amnesty Boards (LABs) showed that 31 applicants were processed during a session in Baybay City, while six more filed applications at the Leyte Regional Prison in Abuyog under the LAB of Tacloban.

The LAB of Catbalogan, for its part, recorded 36 applicants in Catubig, Northern Samar, and another 71 during an orientation activity in Borongan City.

The activities were carried out in coordination with partner agencies, including the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), the Philippine Army, the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), as part of ongoing efforts to encourage former combatants to return to mainstream society.

During the sessions, secretariats of the Local Amnesty Boards explained the scope of the amnesty program, covered offenses, documentary requirements, and the step-by-step application process. Applicants also took their oath of allegiance before PAO lawyers, a key requirement for processing their petitions.

The National Amnesty Commission has set application deadlines on March 4, 2026 for former members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawang Pilipinas–Revolutionary Proletarian Army–Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPM-P/RPA/ABB), and March 13, 2026 for former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army–National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

Officials reiterated their call for eligible individuals to avail themselves of the amnesty program, describing it as a crucial step toward reconciliation, legal closure, and long-term peace and development in the region.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)