TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has officially handed over seven farm-to-market roads (FMRs) worth P100 million to the municipality of Oras, Eastern Samar, aiming to improve agricultural productivity and ease transport for farmers in remote areas.
The 6.8-kilometer road network, funded through the Agrarian Reform Fund, links geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) from Barangays San Eduardo, Nadacpan, Saurong, Agsam, Iwayan, Minap-os, and Alang-Alang to Cadi-an. The project is expected to benefit more than 10,000 residents, including agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).
Eastern Samar Representative Christopher Sheen Gonzales and DAR Regional Director Robert Anthony Yu led the turnover ceremony, which was formally received by Oras Mayor Roy Ador alongside local farmers.
DAR Regional Director Yu highlighted that the agency’s mandate extends beyond land distribution to include infrastructure support, which helps boost agricultural output. He noted that the FMR projects were implemented through the initiative of House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Representative Marcelino Libanan.
Mayor Ador expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III, noting that the improved roads have already contributed to increased rice production and easier transport of agricultural goods.
Gonzales also announced that an additional P200 million has been allocated for more farm-to-market road projects to expand access to other parts of Oras, emphasizing the continued push for development across Eastern Samar in coordination with Congressman Marcelino ‘Nonoy’ Libanan of the 4Ps party-list.
TACLOBAN CITY — Around 50 veterinarians, livestock technicians, and technical staff from municipal, provincial, and city veterinary offices across Eastern Visayas are participating in the Local Animal Disease Diagnosis and Emergency Response (LADDER) Training this week in Baybay City.
Organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization in coordination with the Bureau of Animal Industry and the Department of Agriculture(DA-8), the training aims to enhance local capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to animal health threats.
Participants are undergoing lectures and hands-on workshops covering epidemiological strategies, risk analysis, animal health surveillance, field disease investigation, necropsy procedures, sample collection, and coordinated disease response.
During the opening sessions, Dr. Jezeel Josol of the Regulatory Division shared updates on monitoring and surveillance of serious animal diseases in the region, emphasizing the importance of early detection and rapid response to prevent outbreaks.
Organizers said the LADDER training will equip participants with practical skills and improve coordination among veterinary services, ultimately safeguarding animal health and supporting the region’s livestock industry.
TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Science and Technology–Samar Provincial Science and Technology Office (DOST-Samar PSTO) recently conducted a Project Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) for its “Samar Lagundi (Vitex negundo) Project,” aimed at creating sustainable livelihood opportunities and developing a lagundi-based industry in Samar.
The PME took place in Barangay Balante, Basey, Samar, where the DOST team assessed project implementation, progress, and impact on local farmers. The initiative seeks to empower farming communities while promoting the economic potential of lagundi, a medicinal plant widely used in herbal remedies.
Leading the monitoring team was Atty. Joseph Albert Lledo, Senior Science Research Specialist of DOST-Samar PSTO, along with Sheila Mae Pica, Science Research Specialist II, and Jessica Barredo, Project Technical Staff.
The team conducted site inspections, validation activities, and technical discussions with project stakeholders, including representatives from Samar State University led by Engr. Mirador Labrador, vice president for finance and administration, who also heads the project.
Key achievements noted during the evaluation included the establishment of a pilot lagundi farm, farmer training programs, and the initiation of partnerships with potential industry adopters. Areas identified for further improvement included farm expansion, completion of project facilities, better equipment management, and stronger market linkages to ensure long-term sustainability.
DOST-Samar PSTO emphasized its commitment to providing ongoing technical guidance and monitoring support, aiming to translate scientific and technological interventions into tangible livelihood opportunities for Samar’s farming communities.
SUPPORT. The provincial government of Northern Samar, under Gov. Harris Ongchuan, has given its full support on the initiative of the Marcos administration to include local government units and the private sector in building more classrooms in the country. Photo shows Pres. Marcos with Ongchuan and other governors of the country.(THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF NORTHERN SAMAR)
SUPPORT. The provincial government of Northern Samar, under Gov. Harris Ongchuan, has given its full support on the initiative of the Marcos administration to include local government units and the private sector in building more classrooms in the country. Photo shows Pres. Marcos with Ongchuan and other governors of the country.(THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF NORTHERN SAMAR)
TACLOBAN CITY — Northern Samar Governor Harris Ongchuan has expressed support for the national government’s initiative to directly involve local government units (LGUs) in accelerating the construction of much-needed classrooms across the country.
Ongchuan joined other local chief executives during the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) led by Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on February 11, 2026, in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd).
The agreement formalizes a nationwide collaboration aimed at addressing the persistent shortage of classrooms, a long-standing issue that has resulted in overcrowded classes, shifting schedules, and makeshift learning spaces in many public schools, particularly in far-flung and disaster-prone provinces like Northern Samar.
Under the program, around 4,000 additional classrooms will be constructed in the initial phase, funded under the 2026 national budget. The initiative outlines shared responsibilities between DepEd and LGUs, including funding support, construction monitoring, and long-term maintenance of the facilities.
DepEd will identify priority schools based on classroom gaps and enrollment data, provide standard building designs, and ensure compliance with safety, accessibility, and quality standards. Both DepEd and LGUs will jointly oversee the construction and improvement of school buildings within their respective jurisdictions.
President Marcos said the scheme is expected to significantly reduce bureaucratic delays and speed up the delivery of school infrastructure by tapping the implementation capacity of LGUs.
In a statement, Ongchuan underscored the importance of the partnership in improving learning conditions for students in Northern Samar, where growing enrollment and limited infrastructure have strained public schools.
“Sa pamamagitan ng patuloy na pakikipagtulungan sa Pamahalaang Nasyunal, patuloy tayong magsusulong ng mas ligtas, mas maayos, at mas dekalidad na edukasyon para sa bawat kabataang Nortehanon,” the governor said.
He reiterated the provincial government of Northern Samar’s commitment to supporting education reforms through stronger coordination with the national government, emphasizing that adequate and safe classrooms are essential to raising the quality of basic education in the province.
TACLOBAN CITY — The local government of Matag-ob, Leyte has officially rolled out its smoke-free, vape-free campaign, reinforcing a total ban on smoking and vaping in the municipality under Municipal Ordinance No. 257-225. The launch took place on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.
Authored by Sangguniang Bayan Member Luz Boldero and unanimously approved by the council, the ordinance aims to safeguard public health and comply with national regulations on tobacco and vape products.
Under the law, violators face fines ranging from P1,000 to P2,500, with confiscation of tobacco and vape products. Repeat offenders may also face 15 days of imprisonment or additional fines. All public offices, establishments, and public transport must display “No Smoking” signs in visible areas, with failure to comply considered a violation. Businesses found breaching the ordinance may risk revocation of their permits.
The Municipal Health Office, together with the Municipal Anti-Smoking Task Force, the Matag-ob Municipal Police Station, and barangay officials, will lead enforcement. Citizens can report violations anonymously, and collected fines will fund health programs and anti-smoking initiatives.
Mayor Bernardino Tacoy urged residents to support the campaign, stressing that the municipality prioritizes public health over potential revenue from tobacco and vape sales.
“Because we care deeply about the future of our municipality, we have chosen to forgo potential income from the trade of cigarettes and vapes, prioritizing instead the health and well-being of our people,” Tacoy said.
DESTRUCTIVE. The planned resumption of mining activity in MacArthur, Leyte could result to damage rice farms, so says an executive of the Department of Agriculture in the region. Photo shows the huge dredger that is to be used for the mining operations.( KAWANDER)
DESTRUCTIVE. The planned resumption of mining activity in MacArthur, Leyte could result to damage rice farms, so says an executive of the Department of Agriculture in the region. Photo shows the huge dredger that is to be used for the mining operations.( KAWANDER)
TACLOBAN CITY — As opposition mounts against proposed black sand mining operations in MacArthur, Leyte, the Department of Agriculture in Eastern Visayas (DA-8) has warned that mining activities could cause long-term damage to agricultural lands and threaten the livelihood of farmers in the area.
During a press conference organized by the MacArthur local government, DA-8 officials outlined the potential environmental and economic consequences of mining, particularly in farming communities where rice production is a primary source of income.
Jenny Lyn Almeria, officer-in-charge regional technical director for operations and extension of the DA-8, said mining operations may result in land degradation due to the loss of topsoil, rendering farmlands unusable for decades.
“Among the significant effects are land degradation due to loss of topsoil, water contamination and scarcity, increased coastal erosion and flooding, destruction of irrigation facilities, and deterioration of soil quality,” she said.
Almeria added that mining could also trigger socio-economic displacement among farming communities, land conversion, loss of biodiversity, and long-term devaluation of agricultural areas, ultimately affecting farmers’ productivity and income.
Almeria emphasized the need for a harmonized and sustained rehabilitation plan should mining activities proceed, stressing transparency and community participation to ensure that all stakeholders are properly informed.
The controversy stems from the planned resumption of magnetite or “black sand” extraction in the town. However, Romulo Babatugun, division chief of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region 8 (MGB-8), clarified that MacArthur Iron Projects Corporation (MIPC) has yet to secure approval of its required three-year work program from the agency’s central office.
Babatugun said the company must also comply with other local requirements before it can resume operations.
Residents from several barangays, particularly farmers, have staged picket protests opposing the mining project. They claim previous activities have already affected farmlands and rice production. Protesters are also blocking the transport of a dredging equipment to the mining site, fearing it signals the resumption of operations.
The groups have sought intervention from Malacañang, Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla, and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, urging authorities to halt the mining project.
For its part, MIPC, through its Human Resource and Administration representative Lorenz Medua, maintained that the company has not resumed operations. He said the dredger being transported is part of preparatory measures pending regulatory approval and is intended to upgrade operational efficiency.
MacArthur Mayor Rudin Babante also clarified that the local government has not issued any permit allowing the company to operate.
In 2022, the municipal government ordered the suspension of mining activities following reported damage to an irrigation canal of the National Irrigation Administration within the project site.
The dispute continues to stir tension in the town as residents press for the protection of agricultural lands and food security.
