ORMOC CITY — A 30-year-old pedicab driver was injured on Monday morning after being struck by a motorcycle while crossing the national highway in Barangay San Antonio Población in Alangalang, Leyte.

Police identified the victim as alias “Chad,” a resident of Barangay Milagrosa, Alangalang. The motorcycle involved, a Kawasaki, was driven by alias “Ewin,” 38, a security guard from Barangay Libo, Carigara, Leyte.

According to the Alangalang Municipal Police Station, the accident occurred around 5:10 a.m. as the motorcyclist was traveling toward Tacloban City. The pedicab driver reportedly crossed the highway and was accidentally hit when the motorcycle driver failed to notice him.

The victim sustained injuries to multiple parts of his body and was immediately transported to the Eastern Visayas Medical Center in Tacloban City for treatment. The motorcyclist only suffered minor injuries and was treated on-site but refused hospital transfer.

Police said the motorcyclist and his vehicle were brought to Alangalang MPS for proper documentation and further investigation.

(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY — A 59-year-old man from Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu died after his motorcycle figured in a self-accident along a curved stretch of highway in Barangay Paril, Mahaplag, Leyte.

Police identified the fatality as alias “Vin,” married and unemployed, and a resident of Mahayahay, Bankal, Lapu-Lapu City. He was driving a Honda CFT125 motorcycle at the time of the incident.

According to the Mahaplag Municipal Police Station (MPS), the accident occurred at around 7:20 p.m. on Jan. 23 when the victim was traveling from Barangay Mahayahay, Mahaplag, en route to Baybay City, Leyte.

Initial police investigation showed that the motorcyclist miscalculated an approaching curve, causing his vehicle to veer toward the outer lane and crash onto the pavement.

The victim sustained multiple injuries and was immediately transported by Rural Health Unit (RHU) personnel to the Mahaplag Health Center, where he was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Police responded to the incident after receiving a report from a concerned citizen via a mobile phone call. The victim’s motorcycle was later brought to the Mahaplag MPS for proper disposition.

(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY — An 18-year-old senior high school student was killed on Friday evening after his motorcycle slammed into a parked dump truck along a village road in Barangay Quatro de Agosto, Mahaplag, Leyte.

Police identified the fatality as alias “Atan,” single, a resident of Sitio Tagpili, Barangay Hilusig, Mahaplag. He was driving a Rusi Delta 100 motorcycle at the time of the accident.
According to the Mahaplag Municipal Police Station, the incident occurred at around 6:20 p.m. while the victim was traveling from Barangay Poblacion toward Barangay Hilusig. Upon reaching Barangay Quatro de Agosto, the motorcycle driver reportedly failed to notice a dump truck parked along the right shoulder of the highway due to inclement weather conditions.

Police said the dump truck, which is registered under a construction company, had been parked in the area because of mechanical problems. The motorcycle struck the rear portion of the truck, causing the rider to be thrown onto the pavement and sustain multiple injuries to different parts of his body.

Responding police personnel immediately transported the victim aboard a KIA patrol vehicle to the Mahaplag Rural Health Unit (RHU), but he was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

The accident was reported to police by a concerned resident through a mobile phone call. The driver of the dump truck was later invited to the Mahaplag MPS for proper disposition as part of the ongoing investigation.

(ROBERT DEJON)

CALBAYOG CITY — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is aiming to complete the long-awaited rehabilitation of the Daang Maharlika, the country’s primary north–south highway, before the end of 2027, with heavily damaged sections in Samar and other parts of Eastern Visayas.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon announced the target timeline during a two-day inspection visit to Samar on Sunday and Monday, saying the Marcos administration has already lined up funding for the project under the proposed 2026 national budget, with additional allocations set for the succeeding fiscal year.

Dizon said savings from the 2025 national budget would also be used to fast-track the rehabilitation of the highway, which has long been criticized for its deteriorating condition in several regions.

“Before the end of 2027, we hope to rehabilitate a large portion of the Daang Maharlika—from Luzon to Mindanao—especially the sections that are repeatedly damaged,” Dizon said in a media interview in Calbayog City on Monday, Feb.2.

He emphasized that the massive road rehabilitation will be financed entirely through government funds, assuring the public that no foreign loans will be tapped for the project.
“These are local funds. We are not borrowing from foreign banks,” he said.

The Daang Maharlika, also known as the Pan-Philippine Highway, stretches more than 3,279 kilometers across Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao and serves as a crucial backbone for inter-island trade, tourism, and daily mobility. In Eastern Visayas, the highway spans 395.52 kilometers, including 205.75 kilometers in Samar province, where some of the most severely damaged portions are located.

Despite the scope of the undertaking, Dizon did not disclose the total cost of rehabilitating the entire highway network.

The DPWH chief said the rehabilitation of the Daang Maharlika is among the flagship infrastructure priorities of the Marcos administration, citing its strategic role in linking regions and supporting economic activity.

To ensure faster and more efficient completion, Dizon said the DPWH plans to award the project to major contractors instead of smaller ones, noting that piecemeal rehabilitation by multiple small contractors often results in delays and uneven road quality.

“Our commitment to local leaders and even to the bishops is to engage large contractors, not small ones, so the work will not be done in fragmented sections,” he said.
During his inspection in Samar, Dizon observed that some road repair works were being handled by small contractors, which he said posed safety risks due to the absence of proper warning signs and barriers.

“There were no warning signs, no barriers, and construction materials were just left on the roads, which can cause accidents,” he said.

Dizon added that based on his inspection from the Bicol Region to Eastern Visayas, only about 30 percent of the Daang Maharlika could be classified as severely damaged, underscoring the need for focused yet comprehensive rehabilitation.

Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan welcomed Dizon’s visit, saying the province has long awaited sustained national attention to the condition of the highway.

“This is the first time that a DPWH Secretary actually inspected and visited the Daang Maharlika,” Tan said, adding that the road network is vital to Samar’s economy, connectivity, and tourism growth.

As part of his visit, Dizon conducted an on-site road inspection aboard a bus traversing the Maharlika Highway, starting from the Bicol Region and continuing through Eastern Visayas, to personally assess the condition of the national road network.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY– National ID registration in Eastern Visayas continues at full pace in 2026, highlighting the region’s strong commitment to building a reliable, inclusive, and accessible identification system for all Filipinos.

The Philippine Statistics Authority – Regional Statistical Services Office VIII (PSA RSSO 8) reports that as of November 2025, a total of 4.29 million individuals in Eastern Visayas have already registered under the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys).

This milestone reflects the sustained efforts of PSA, in partnership with local government units and community stakeholders, to bring National ID services closer to the people.

Beginning January 19, 2026, registration activities continue through PSA’s Fixed Registration Centers (FRCs) operating across the six provinces of the region. In addition, mobile registration teams are being deployed in selected and hard-to-reach municipalities to ensure broader coverage and improved accessibility.

Special attention is given to unregistered individuals, particularly senior citizens, persons with disabilities, indigent families, and residents of geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas. These initiatives aim to ensure that no one is left behind in the national identification program.

PSA Fixed Registration Centers (FRCs) remain open to provide other essential PhilSys services. These include updating personal records, correction of demographic information, replacement of lost or damaged National IDs, and assistance in tracking the delivery status of issued IDs.

Continuous coordination with local government units further strengthens community-based registration efforts and information dissemination.

The PSA encourages all unregistered residents of Eastern Visayas to take advantage of these ongoing services. The National ID serves as a valid proof of identity and supports easier access to government programs, social services, and financial transactions.
For inquiries and further information, please visit the PSA’s official website at www.psa.gov.ph or contact our office at (053) 839-1884 or rsso08@psa.gov.ph. (PR)