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Female PDLs in Tacloban City Jail avail national ID registration services

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TACLOBAN CITY – In support of efforts to make the National Identification System widely accessible, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Leyte in coordination with the Tacloban City Jail Female Dormitory, successfully conducted National Registration Services for Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) on December 8, 2025 in Brgy. 25, Tacloban City.

The activity was held following the request of the Female Dormitory Warden SJO4 Judith B. Balanay to provide easier access to government services and ensure that all PDL’s are properly documented under the national identification system.

During the activity, a total of 11 PDLs completed their National ID registration and issued NID in paper form, while 4 individuals updated their demographic information. In addition, 37 National ID in paper form were issued to female PDLs, ensuring they now possess an official proof of identity that can be used for legal, social, and welfare-related transactions.

Jail officials expressed gratitude to PSA National ID personnel for extending its services to persons deprived of liberty, recognizing the importance of providing them with legal identification as part of their rights and rehabilitation. NID personnel likewise emphasized that the program aims to make the National ID system inclusive and accessible to all sectors of society, including those in custodial settings.

The collaboration highlights the continuous efforts of government agencies to reach vulnerable and marginalized groups and ensure that every Filipino, regardless of circumstance, can benefit from national identification services.

The Tacloban City Jail Female Dormitory affirmed its commitment to supporting programs that promote identity verification, social protection, and reintegration of PDLs into society.
Furthermore, PSA Leyte encourages all unregistered individuals to visit the nearest registration center and take part in this important national initiative.

For more information on the National ID registration and schedules, individuals may visit the nearest PSA office in Leyte.(PR)

Ormoc sends record 19-athlete delegation to 33rd SEA Games, led by Richard and Juliana Gomez

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ORMOC’S PRIDE. Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez and his daughter Juliana joined in this year’s SEA Games being held in Thailand. The Leyte and his daughter leads the delegation from Ormoc City, considered a sporting powerhouse in Eastern Visayas. (PHOTO COURTESY)
ORMOC’S PRIDE. Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez and his daughter Juliana joined in this year’s SEA Games being held in Thailand. The Leyte and his daughter leads the delegation from Ormoc City, considered a sporting powerhouse in Eastern Visayas. (PHOTO COURTESY)

TACLOBAN CITY– Ormoc City is set to make one of its strongest showings yet in international sports as Leyte 4th district Representative Richard Gomez and his daughter, national team fencer Juliana Marie Beatriz Torres Gomez, lead a 19-athlete contingent representing the Philippines in the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand.

The Games, which will run from December 9 to 20, 2025 in Bangkok, Chonburi, and Songkhla, will feature one of Ormoc’s largest and most diverse athlete delegations—solidifying the city’s growing reputation as an emerging sports powerhouse.

Rep. Gomez, a former SEA Games gold medalist and a long-time advocate of sports development, is returning to international competition in Compak Shooting. He will compete alongside fellow Ormocanons Carlo Baltonado and Jed Rivilla, marking a rare instance of a sitting lawmaker participating as a national athlete.

His daughter, Juliana, will also carry the Ormoc banner as she competes in the Women’s Épée event with teammates Alexa Larrazabal and Ivy Claire Dinoy. Her participation continues the Gomez family’s legacy in fencing and reinforces Ormoc’s expanding footprint in the sport.

Ormoc’s remarkable presence at the 2025 SEA Games is widely attributed to the city’s sustained and strategic investment in athlete development—anchored on the SAPATOS Program (Support the Athletes in Pursuit of Accomplishing Life-Changing Opportunities in Sports). What began as a simple gesture of providing a young athlete with a pair of shoes has evolved into a comprehensive sports ecosystem. The program now supplies training support, equipment, mentorship, and long-term development pathways that have produced regional, national, and international champions.

With the leadership and continued support of Rep. Gomez and Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez, the city has strengthened its sports infrastructure, upgraded facilities, and expanded access to professional coaching.

These efforts have transformed Ormoc into one of the Philippines’ most dynamic training hubs, nurturing athletes across a wide range of disciplines.

In addition to fencing and shooting, Ormoc will also field competitors in modern pentathlon and basketball—further showcasing the city’s breadth of talent and commitment to athletic excellence.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

Biliran expands bamboo greenbelt, plants 100 bayog seedlings to protect riverbanks

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BAMBOO PLANTING. The province of Biliran is promoting massive planting of bamboo across the province not only as a source of income but more so as a natural barrier against natural disaster. (PHOTO COURTESY)
BAMBOO PLANTING. The province of Biliran is promoting massive planting of bamboo across the province not only as a source of income but more so as a natural barrier against natural disaster. (PHOTO COURTESY)

TACLOBAN CITY — Biliran province has taken another step toward strengthening its natural defenses against erosion and flooding as the provincial government completed the 3rd round of its Bamboo Rehabilitation Program on Wednesday(Dec.10), planting 100 bayog bamboo seedlings in Barangays Agpangi and Sabang,both in the provincial capital of Naval.

The initiative, led by Governor Rogelio Espina and Provincial Environmental Officer Sofronio “Jun” Dacillo Jr., aims to build a continuous bamboo greenbelt along major river systems—an effort that supports both disaster resilience and long-term environmental sustainability.
Officials selected the bayog variety for its durability and suitability for riverbank protection. Known for its deep root system and strong culms, bayog bamboo helps stabilize slopes, reduce soil erosion, and minimize scouring around bridges and essential structures. It also acts as an efficient carbon sink, absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, while slowing water flow during heavy rains to lessen flood risks.

Beyond its environmental benefits, the program is designed to promote community involvement. Local residents and provincial workers—including job order and contract of service personnel—joined the planting activity to demonstrate a whole-of-government and whole-of-community approach to protecting Biliran’s natural resources.

Governor Espina said the seedlings serve as “guardians of our riverbanks and foundations of our green economy,” adding that the province is committed to expanding bamboo planting along all major waterways.

He also revealed that aside from the 100 seedlings planted this week, the province is currently propagating 3,000 more bayog bamboo seedlings for future transplantation.
Through the Bamboo Rehabilitation Program, Biliran hopes to inspire landowners, youth groups, environmental advocates, and civic organizations to participate in broader greening initiatives and help build a more climate-resilient province.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

Politics at a glance

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Ideally, politics should yield competent leaders that people can choose from during elections. But in our country, politics has decayed into a dirty arena where competence is displaced by manipulation and deceit, depriving the nation of genuine leaders and obstructing any hope of national progress.

The filth begins with the way power is acquired. Instead of presenting clear plans and coherent platforms, many candidates rely on vote-buying, personality-building, and emotional theatrics to secure positions. Elections become a contest of financial muscle rather than public trust, and the electorate is often reduced to a market where loyalties are bought rather than earned. This corrupt foundation ensures that unworthy figures rise to positions meant for competent public servants.

Then, there is the entanglement of political clans and business interests. Families treat public offices as hereditary property, transferring power from one relative to another as if the nation were their private estate. These dynasties operate as self-serving machines, using public funds and authority to protect their wealth and expand their reach. Their entrenched networks discourage merit, shut out new leaders, and leave citizens trapped under the same ruling circles that prioritize convenience over integrity.

Weak institutions and selective law enforcement further mess up the system. Rules are bent to shield allies and persecute opponents, creating an environment where accountability is optional for those with influence. This culture of impunity emboldens officials to act without restraint, knowing that penalties can be dodged through connections or legal theatrics. It ruins public confidence in processes meant to uphold fairness and discipline.

The country needs strong institutions that can operate beyond the reach of political pressure, along with strict enforcement of campaign finance regulations and genuine political education for citizens. We need to establish a system that rewards competence and integrity, so the nation can break free from the grime that now defines its political life. Let us fix things this way, come the next elections.

An academic concern

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A student caught using AI to finish a major paper has become the latest storm in a growing list of academic disputes, and the outrage is spreading like a fire no one seems prepared to put out. The issue is clear: schools cannot ignore AI, but they also cannot surrender academic integrity to convenience. A firm, balanced stand is overdue.

On many campuses today, AI sits like an uninvited guest who has somehow become part of the family. Everyone knows it’s there—whispering answers, polishing sentences, summarizing chapters—yet no one openly talks about the awkwardness of its presence. I’ve watched teachers struggle to set boundaries while students cling to the promise of a more manageable workload. The truth is that academic institutions must stop pretending that technology is a passing phase. It’s here, and it’s reshaping how students think, write, and even perceive learning itself.

What should be allowed, then? For me, AI works best when it assists rather than replacing the student’s mind. I see no harm in students asking it to explain a complex theory, reorganize messy notes, or provide examples that deepen understanding. These uses sharpen the student’s intellectual tools rather than dull them. Just as calculators never destroyed mathematics but merely freed learners from tedious computations, AI can help unclutter academic tasks, allowing students to focus on deeper insights. But the key difference is that calculators never wrote essays or crafted arguments; AI, if misused, absolutely can.

And that is where lines must be drawn—dark, unmistakable lines. When students submit AI-generated paragraphs as their own, the entire learning process collapses. I recoil at the idea of a student receiving credit for thoughts that did not pass through their mind, much less their effort. Schools must not allow AI to write academic outputs intended to measure comprehension, originality, and critical thinking. If the student cannot stand behind every sentence with personal accountability, then the work does not belong to them. A diploma loses its dignity when granted to someone who lets a machine think for them.

I also find it irresponsible when institutions refuse to revise their policies to avoid the hassle of adaptation. Pretending the old rules can handle new problems is like patching a leaking roof with cardboard—it looks fine for a moment, and then the storm comes. Universities should invest in more straightforward guidelines, proper training, and honest conversations with both teachers and students. It’s exhausting, yes, but it’s also necessary. Academic culture must adapt without losing the values that define it.

Beyond policing dishonesty, schools must also address the deeper reason why many students resort to AI: they are overwhelmed. Heavy workloads, poor writing foundations, and the constant pressure to perform push them toward shortcuts. I refuse to condemn students without acknowledging the system that drives them to seek refuge in a tool that promises relief. Education must not be a battlefield where survival depends on tricks; it should be a space where learners build confidence in their own voice.

I prefer to see a generation that treats AI as a companion, not a crutch. A good school should produce graduates who can think independently but are not afraid to use technology responsibly. Let the students consult AI, critique it, question it, challenge it, and even outgrow it. What matters is that the mind remains active behind the screen and the heart remains honest behind every submission.

After all, academic institutions should adopt policies that neither ban AI blindly nor allow its reckless use. They should teach students how to use tools without surrendering their intellect. And if institutions embrace this task with clarity and courage, AI will no longer be a threat but a reminder that integrity can still prevail in a world full of shortcuts.

The Philippine recent football surge

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The roar of the crowd in the SEA Games, when the Philippine football team clinched its recent victories, was more than just the sound of triumph. It was the echo of a nation rediscovering a sport that has long been overshadowed by basketball’s towering presence.
Football’s rise is not accidental. It is the fruit of persistence, of young athletes who dared to dream beyond the hardwood courts and boxing rings. Their victories are not merely goals scored; they are statements of identity. They tell us that Filipinos can excel in the world’s most beloved sport, that we can stand shoulder to shoulder with our Southeast Asian neighbors in a game that unites billions across continents.

In a nation where basketball is the dominant sport and the concept of football’s delayed gratification is looked down upon, it is not surprising that football lacks popularity.
Football in the Philippines has always been a paradox. Introduced during the American colonial period, it never captured the national imagination the way basketball did. While neighboring countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia built football cultures that thrived, the Philippines remained on the margins. For decades, our teams were seen as underdogs, often exiting tournaments early, overshadowed by the dominance of others.
I have seen Football Games in the Southeast Asian Games where the country can barely have possessions of the football much more get hold of it to try to the Goal.

The turning point came in 2010, when the Philippine national team—the Azkals—defeated Vietnam in the AFF Suzuki Cup. That victory was dubbed the “Miracle in Hanoi,” and it awakened a sleeping giant. Suddenly, football was on primetime television. Filipinos who had never followed the sport were glued to the screen, cheering for a team that embodied grit and resilience.

Many footballs enthusiast said that the accomplishment was merely a sort of tsamba. But as we knew , walay sipyat ang Tsamba. Like passing the Bar Exams, and when someone is asked how you passed the Bar, the new Lawyer said that Tsamba lang ( a matter of luck ). In corollary Tsamba is a hail Mary Shot , yet it hits the mark. Football is not a matter of luck its an art and science combined and yes, we as a nation is getting victories now.

In the Southeast Asian Games 2025, Out Banatao’s late header sends the Philippines Male Football Team victorious over Indonesia and the Mallie Ramirez late goal propels the Filipinas over defending champions Vietnam..

The double victories are never Tsamba , these are hard earned and well fought. These are good news that deserves follow through.

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