TACLOBAN CITY – Ormoc City reaffirmed its dominance in the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) Meet, securing the overall championship for the fifth consecutive year.

The Department of Education (DepEd) Ormoc City Division swept nearly all sports categories, winning an impressive 210 gold, 134 silver, and 68 bronze medals.
Leyte 4th District Representative Richard Gomez credited the city’s continued success to dedicated coaches and trainers, who worked with the athletes three months before the competition. He also emphasized the role of high-quality sports facilities and equipment in their preparation.

However, despite Ormoc’s overwhelming victory, Gomez acknowledged the need for improvement in certain events, particularly in athletics, which had one of the largest medal hauls in the annual sporting event.

“Despite being number one again this year, we see areas where we need to improve. There are sports where Ormoc is still struggling, and we will work on strengthening those in the coming months,” Gomez said.

With the EVRAA Meet now concluded, DepEd Eastern Visayas will shift its focus to training athletes for the 2025 Palarong Pambansa, set for May in Ilocos Norte.

DepEd Assistant Regional Director Ronilo Al Firmo stated that preparations are underway, with intensive training camps planned for those selected to represent the region.

“Our goal is to maintain or improve our performance at the Palarong Pambansa. Based on our assessment, many of our athletes have strong potential to win gold, and a significant number have met the qualifying standards set by the Central Office,” Firmo said.

During the closing ceremony on Saturday, March 8, DepEd Regional Director Evelyn Fetalvero urged the athletes to stay focused and strive for excellence in the national games.

“As we close this chapter of the 2025 EVRAA, I encourage every athlete to keep training, keep pushing for excellence, and set your sights on the ultimate prize—the Palarong Pambansa in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte,” Fetalvero said.

She also called on local government units (LGUs) to continue supporting EVRAA winners who will represent Eastern Visayas on the national stage.

Final Medal Tally – EVRAA 2025

Ormoc City – 210 gold, 134 silver, 68 bronze (champion); Leyte Division – 72 gold, 48 silver, 57 bronze;Maasin City – 29 gold, 32 silver, 26 bronze; Baybay City (2026 host) – 22 gold, 35 silver, 51 bronze; Tacloban City – 22 gold, 35 silver, 47 bronze; Calbayog City (2027 host) – 16 gold, 23 silver, 35 bronze (Most Improved Division – from 9th place in 2024); Samar Division – 14 gold, 26 silver, 76 bronze; Eastern Samar – 13 gold, 20 silver, 41 bronze; Northern Samar – 8 gold, 29 silver, 31 bronze; Southern Leyte – 7 gold, 25 silver, 30 bronze; Catbalogan City – 3 gold, 9 silver, 31 bronze; Borongan City – 3 gold, 4 silver, 9 bronze; and Biliran Province – 1 gold, 3 silver, 21 bronze.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

City finished 6th overall

TACLOBAN CITY – Medal-winning athletes from the Calbayog City Supersonics in the 2025 Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) Meet will receive cash incentives from the city government as a reward for their dedication and success.

Gold medalists will receive P5,000, silver medalists P3,000, and bronze medalists P2,000. Non-medalist participants will also receive P1,000 each as recognition for their efforts.
Calbayog City made significant progress in this year’s EVRAA, finishing sixth overall with 16 gold, 23 silver, and 35 bronze medals—a notable improvement from their ninth-place finish in 2024 with 10 gold, 35 silver, and 33 bronze medals.

Their improved performance earned them the “Most Improved Division” award.
“We are happy for our young athletes because our ranking improved from number nine to number six,” Mayor Raymund Uy said, emphasizing the city’s ongoing commitment to supporting local sports programs.

The mayor, who personally met their young athletes while competing in Tacloban City, also assured full support for Calbayog athletes who will be part of the Eastern Visayas delegation in the 2025 Palarong Pambansa this May in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

Looking ahead, Calbayog City is set to host the 2027 EVRAA Meet, marking its first time since 2018 to stage the prestigious regional competition.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO 8), led by Regional Director PB/Gen.Jay Cumigad, officially launched the 2025 National Women’s Month Celebration (NWMC) with the theme “Babae sa Lahat ng Sektor, Aangat ang Bukas sa Bagong Pilipinas” at the PRO 8 Multipurpose Hall on March 3, 2025.

The event was graced by Regional Director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Grace Subong, who served as the guest of honor and speaker.
In her keynote speech, Subong underscored the vital role of women in all sectors and commended PRO 8 for its dedication to gender equality and inclusivity.

“The PNP and the DSWD share the same commitment to serving with compassion. This celebration is a recognition of the role women play in every organization,” she stated.
“Behind every great man is a great woman, and vice versa. We cannot do this alone—we need each other. This is a challenge for all of us as public servants to ensure that we truly uplift women in the new Philippines,” she added.

One of the event’s highlights was the provision of assistance and hygiene kits to ten policewomen and non-uniformed personnel (NUP) battling serious illnesses. This initiative, made possible through the PRO 8 OLC Foundation Inc., reflects the organization’s deep commitment to the welfare of its personnel, particularly women in uniform who continue to serve despite personal challenges.

Certificates of appreciation were awarded to various government agencies in recognition of their support for “Serbisyo Para Kay Juana”, a program providing essential services to female personnel of PRO 8. The initiative featured services from several partner agencies, including the Department of Health (DOH) – Health services; Commission on Population Development (CPD) – Family planning and reproductive health services; Technical Education Skills and Development Authority-Gandang Juana – Free manicure, pedicure, haircut, and massage; Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) – Civil registration services; lending agencies (PSSLAI, AFPSLAI) – financial assistance programs; Department of Agriculture (DA) – display of local products; Avon Mobile Store, makeup tutorial, personal development, and product display; Regional Medical and Dental Unit 8 (RMDU 8) – Free health and dental check-ups; and Regional Legal Office 8 (RLO 8) – Legal consultations.
This collaboration highlights the collective effort to support and empower women in the police force.

The NWMC is an annual observance in PRO 8, recognizing the invaluable contributions of women, particularly those in law enforcement, as they continue to break barriers and redefine leadership. Throughout March, PRO 8 will conduct various activities advocating for women’s rights and empowerment.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the region is set to undertake an unprecedented infrastructure development program in 2025, with a total of 1,521 projects worth P58.655 billion spread across the six provinces of Eastern Visayas.

This year’s infrastructure push, one of the most ambitious in recent years, aims to enhance road connectivity, fortify disaster resilience, and boost economic growth across the region.
Of the 1,521 projects, a significant portion is dedicated to improving the region’s transportation network, with 288 road projects, including construction, widening, rehabilitation, and improvement initiatives; and 51 bridge projects, covering repairs, widening, and new constructions to strengthen inter-provincial and inter-city connectivity.

A total of 175 flood control structures will be built across the region to mitigate the impact of flooding, protect lives and properties, and strengthen disaster resilience.

Under the Convergence and Special Support Program (CSSP), DPWH-8 will also roll out key projects aimed at boosting tourism, trade, and essential services.

These includes 22 tourism road projects under the Tourism Road Infrastructure Program (TRIP); 3 projects under Kalsada Tungo sa Paliparan, Riles at Daungan (KATUPARAN), which improves access to airports, railways, and ports; and 4 projects under the Roads Leveraging Linkages for Industry and Trade (ROLL-IT) Program to facilitate smoother logistics and commerce.

To improve basic infrastructure and public service access, DPWH-8 will also implement seven water supply system projects to ensure reliable access to clean water; 14 National Building Program projects, including government office buildings and other public facilities; 587 projects under the Basic Infrastructure Program (BIP) to enhance essential community structures; 326 Sustainable Infrastructure Projects Alleviating Gaps (SIPAG) projects to address infrastructure deficiencies in various sectors; and 44 road projects under the Special Road Fund – Motor Vehicle User’s Charge (MVUC) for road maintenance and improvement.

Among the flagship projects funded under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) are Tacloban City Causeway, a vital road infrastructure to improve mobility and ease congestion; Samar Island Medical Center, enhancing healthcare access in the province; Basey-Maydolong Road, providing a crucial link between Samar and Eastern Samar; Mahaplag-Hilongos Road, improving inter-town connectivity; and Tacloban City Bypass Road Extension, aimed at reducing traffic congestion in the city.

With P58.66 billion allocated for 1,521 projects, DPWH-8’s ambitious infrastructure plan is expected to stimulate economic growth, create job opportunities, improve connectivity, and enhance disaster resilience across Eastern Visayas.

The agency’s efforts will not only transform the region’s physical landscape but also pave the way for sustainable development and improved quality of life for its residents.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)