TACLOBAN CITY-Eastern Samar Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales said efforts are underway to fast-track the construction of a new 69-kilovolt (kV) transmission line aimed at addressing persistent power shortages and frequent brownouts in several towns in the province.

Gonzales said he recently met with National Electrification Administration (NEA) Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda and Acting Deputy Administrator Raymond Napilot to ensure the swift implementation of the power project.

“The goal is to make sure that the construction of the new 69kV line is implemented without delay to respond to the power deficiency being experienced by several municipalities in Eastern Samar,” Gonzales said in a statement.

He said the project is the result of sustained efforts in coordination with House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino ‘Nonoy’ Libanan, noting that it seeks to address long-standing complaints from residents who have endured near-daily power interruptions for more than a decade.

“These frequent brownouts have severely affected households and local businesses, and it is time to put an end to this long-standing problem,” the lawmaker said.

Aside from the new transmission line, Gonzales said discussions with NEA also covered measures to strengthen and stabilize the province’s overall power supply.

Among the proposed projects are the construction of a 69kV line from Taft to Jipapad, the establishment of a 10-megavolt-ampere (MVA) substation in Oras town, and the rehabilitation of the 138kV Paranas–Taft transmission line of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), including the construction of a substation in Taft.

Gonzales stressed that the planned power infrastructure projects are not only meant to reduce brownouts but are also crucial to the province’s economic growth.

“With a reliable electricity supply, we can attract more investors into Eastern Samar and create more opportunities for our people,” he said.

The lawmaker assured that he will continue to closely monitor the implementation of the projects to ensure they deliver long-term benefits to every Eastern Samareño.

(JOEY A. GABIETA, LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

CATARMAN, Northern Samar (PIA) — A two-day soft opening of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) operations in Northern Samar served nearly a thousand clients from municipalities across the province on January 21-22, 2026.

The PRC operations are part of a centralized government service center launched in October 2025, bringing national services closer to residents. The facility includes four agencies: the Professional Regulation Commission, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Commission on Higher Education.

The center was initiated by the former First District Representative Paul Daza, in partnership with the Provincial Government of Northern Samar through the Northern Samar PESO, the Local Government Unit of Catarman, and the University of Eastern Philippines, which built the facility.

Once fully operational, the center aims to meet the long-standing demand among Northern Samar residents for easier access to government-issued documents required for employment, licensure, and other official transactions, reducing the need to travel to other cities outside the province.

PRC Chief Administrative Officer Dioscoro Lumagbas said that the soft opening marks the start of PRC operations in Northern Samar. He clarified that services are limited to two days this week as the office completes facility, system, staffing, and setup requirements for full operations.

He assured the public that once operational requirements are met, the PRC will provide regular services to Nortehanons in accordance with standard schedules.

Lumagbas added that regular operations will eventually include professional licensure examinations, registration, renewal, certification, and related services for professionals and aspiring professionals in the province.

Client Charelle Catunhay said she is grateful for the establishment of the PRC in the province, which is a huge relief from the burden of traveling to Calbayog, Catbalogan, or Tacloban, on top of out-of-pocket expenses.

“The transaction is smooth and fast so long as you follow the scheduled appointment,” she further said.

(AND, PIA Northern Samar)

TACLOBAN CITY — In a move to bring government assistance closer to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families, the Department of Migrant Worker (DMW-8) has entered into a partnership with the local government unit of Villaba, Leyte to strengthen the delivery of migrant worker services at the municipal level.

The memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed by DMW-8 officer-in-charge Marlon Macalla and Villaba Mayor Carlos Veloso, formalizing cooperation aimed at improving coordination of programs for migrant workers and their dependents.

Under the MOA, DMW RO8 and the Villaba municipal government will work together to deliver a range of services for OFWs, including welfare and protection assistance, employment facilitation, referral mechanisms, and reintegration support for returning migrant workers.

Mayor Veloso said the agreement reflects the municipality’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare of Villaba’s OFWs by strengthening local support systems and ensuring timely access to government assistance.

Macalla, for his part, emphasized the importance of partnerships with local government units in decentralizing migrant worker services, noting that bringing services closer to communities makes government assistance more accessible and responsive to the needs of OFWs and their families.

“This collaboration helps ensure that OFWs and their families can easily access services without having to travel far, especially during times of need,” Macalla said.

The signing was witnessed by Vice Mayor Edgar Veloso, members of the Sangguniang Bayan led by OFW and Employment Committee chairperson Jamel O. Gonzales, and representatives from DMW RO8.

DMW said the agreement marks a significant step in its efforts to institutionalize migrant worker services at the local level and expand its service network across Eastern Visayas through sustained collaboration with local government units.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Amid growing financial pressures on dioceses nationwide, Borongan Bishop Crispin Varquez has called on his fellow prelates to embrace simplicity, frugality, and deeper solidarity in Church gatherings, particularly during plenary assemblies of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

Varquez made the appeal in a privilege speech during the 131st CBCP Plenary Assembly on Sunday, January 25, urging bishops to ensure that Church activities remain consistent with their pastoral vocation and sensitive to the realities faced by local churches.

He specifically appealed for restraint in CBCP plenary assemblies hosted by dioceses, warning that while the generosity and hospitality of host dioceses are deeply appreciated, they should not be pushed beyond what is reasonable.

“Accepting lavish hospitality can unintentionally place financial strain on host dioceses and may cause misunderstanding or even scandal among the faithful,” Varquez said, stressing that bishops are called to be witnesses of moderation and stewardship.

The Borongan prelate said that practicing simplicity would make it easier for poorer and smaller dioceses to host future CBCP gatherings without feeling pressured to overspend, thereby promoting wider participation across the Church.

Beyond plenary assemblies, Varquez also called for simpler and more affordable conventions organized by CBCP episcopal commissions. He said Church meetings should prioritize formation, dialogue, and mission rather than costly arrangements, allowing bishops and Church workers from resource-limited dioceses to participate meaningfully.

Addressing concerns about unity within the hierarchy, Varquez rejected claims that brotherhood among bishops is weakening, saying genuine solidarity remains strong among those who actively nurture it. He emphasized that no bishop—whether active or retired—should ever be viewed as a burden, as all share the same vocation and responsibility to serve the People of God.

“Our journey of synodality calls us to walk together and help one another with humility and generosity,” he said.

In the same address, Varquez appealed to dioceses to offer modest and capacity-based financial contributions to help sustain the operations and mission of the CBCP. While acknowledging the financial and pastoral challenges confronting many dioceses, he said even small contributions would be a concrete sign of shared responsibility.

He renewed his proposal for each ecclesiastical territory to consider contributing a small percentage of its available resources to a common fund dedicated to supporting the Conference’s programs and administrative needs.

Varquez concluded by urging his fellow bishops to respond with unity and trust, expressing confidence that acts of generosity—no matter how modest—would strengthen the Church’s mission and be returned manifold in blessings as they continue to serve both the Church and the nation.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)