3rd town in S. Leyte to be declared

TACLOBAN CITY – The town of Padre Burgos in Southern Leyte has been officially declared as having a Stable Internal Peace and Security Condition (SIPSC), commonly known as “insurgency-free” status, adding to the growing list of local government units in the region that have achieved this dAesignation.

The SIPSC declaration for Padre Burgos was made on September 4, during a ceremony attended by key municipal officials, including Mayor Hermenegildo Culpa, who also chairs the Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC).

Other municipal and barangay officials, as well as members of the Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC), were present.

Military and police officials who attended the event included Colonel Rico Amaro, deputy brigade commander of the 802nd Infantry Brigade; Lieutenant Colonel Edgar Gabia, commanding officer of the 14th Infantry (Avenger) Battalion; Police Lieutenant Colonel Sam Andarino; and Police Lieutenant Virgilio Jayma, team leader of the Southern Leyte Police Mobile Force Company.

Padre Burgos, home to more than 10,500 people, joins the towns of Bontoc, Malitbog, and Macrohon in Southern Leyte, which have also been declared insurgency-free.

In his speech, Mayor Culpa expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all stakeholders who contributed to achieving peace in Padre Burgos.

He emphasized that the SIPSC declaration paves the way for further development and an improved quality of life for the town’s residents.

“This recognition will also boost our tourism industry,” Culpa said, noting that Padre Burgos is a popular destination for divers.

The town is home to three Department of Tourism-accredited diving resorts and serves as the gateway to Limasawa Island, where the first Easter Mass in Asia was held in March 1521.

Col.Amaro praised local officials for their dedication to maintaining peace in the municipality.

“Today, we send a message to the nation that Padre Burgos is in a stable internal peace and security condition. We stand united with all sectors in ensuring the needs of our citizens are met, and we urge everyone to resist any groups or individuals that may incite terrorism or criminality,” he said.

The declaration ceremony included the signing of memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and pledges of cmmitment, as well as the symbolic release of white doves, representing peace and a new beginning for the community.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

MANILA-The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines will open a new Visa Application Center (VAC), launch an updated visa appointment system, and expand call center services to U.S. citizens in the Philippines starting on September 28.

The new VAC will be located at Parqal Building 8, Level 3, Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City.

Immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants seeking interview appointments starting September 28 will be required to schedule a separate appointment at the VAC for photo capture and fingerprint scanning prior to their interview at the U.S. Embassy on Roxas Boulevard. Scheduling will be done through the new and redesigned online appointment system.

Applicants who have scheduled a visa interview before September 28 will not be affected by this change and should proceed directly to their appointment at the Embassy.

The new online appointment system will feature a secure and user-friendly interface for visa applicants and will be available on September 28 on ustraveldocs.com/ph. Applicants who have existing accounts in the current visa appointment system will be required to sign in to the new system using their already-registered email address to retrieve their user profile, which includes payment receipts and appointment information.

The VAC will offer appointment slots from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, and from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturdays. No appointment is needed for applicants who would like to pick up their passports or drop off interview waiver visa applications and other required documents from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Additionally, the U.S. Embassy will launch a call center for customers with general, non-emergency American Citizen Services (ACS) inquiries.

U.S. citizens can call consular hotlines at (+632) 7792-8988 or (+632) 8548-8223, or (703) 520-2235 for callers in the United States, with passport, citizenship, and notarial service questions.

The U.S. Embassy will also launch a new and dedicated website (ustraveldocs.com/ph/en/american-citizens-services) and email (support-acs-philippines@usvisascheduling.com) for these ACS services on September 28.
Inquiries not related to passport, citizenship, or notarials should still be sent to the embassy’s ACS unit directly via ACSInfoManila@state.gov. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – Dengue fever cases in Eastern Visayas have surged, with the Department of Health (DOH) reporting a 297% increase over the past eight months compared to the same period last year.

The DOH also confirmed 22 deaths due to dengue fever from January 1 to August 31, significantly higher than the nine deaths recorded during the same period last year.

In response, the health office has renewed its call for the public and local government units to intensify cleanup drives to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, which are the primary cause of dengue fever.

“We are urging hospitals and all health facilities to establish dengue fast lanes, ensure adequate healthcare providers, and maintain sufficient dengue commodities and medicines to deliver prompt services,” the DOH stated in an advisory issued on Thursday, September 5.

From January 1 to August 31 this year, the region has recorded 10,807 dengue fever cases, a sharp rise from the 2,723 cases during the same period last year—a 297% increase.

Of these patients, 22 have died, more than double the number of fatalities last year, which stood at nine.

The province of Samar reported the highest number of dengue-related deaths, with 11 fatalities, followed by Leyte with five, Eastern Samar with three, Northern Samar with two, and Southern Leyte with one.

Leyte province, including its capital city Tacloban, recorded the most dengue cases, with 4,633, followed by Samar with 2,832 cases.

Southern Leyte reported 1,643 cases, Eastern Samar 893, Northern Samar 576, and Biliran 230 cases.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

In Calbayog City

TACLOBAN CITY– A buy-bust operation turned into an armed confrontation, leaving one suspect dead and a police officer injured on the evening of September 8, 2024, in Barangay Obrero, Calbayog City, Samar.

The suspect, known by the alias “Kado,” was a high-value individual (HVI) in the local drug watchlist.

Meanwhile, the victim, identified as alias “Binok,” is an active member of the Philippine National Police (PNP), assigned to the Calbayog City Police Station as an intelligence/drug enforcement officer.

According to the Calbayog City Police Station, their operatives were conducting a buy-bust operation targeting “Kado” when the situation escalated.

During the drug transaction, the suspect realized he was dealing with a police officer. In response, “Kado” quickly drew a .45 caliber Colt pistol and fired at the police team, striking alias “Binok” in the pelvis.

The operating team immediately returned fire, neutralizing the suspect.

The wounded police officer was rushed to St. Camillus Hospital, where he received immediate medical treatment and is now reported to be in stable condition.

The suspect, on the other hand, was brought to Calbayog District Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival by his attending physician.

The Calbayog City Forensic Unit processed the crime scene and recovered the one .45 caliber Colt pistol loaded with four rounds of ammunition; nine fired cartridge cases; three fired bullets; one magazine loaded with seven rounds of ammunition; and two heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu, weighing approximately a gram with a commercial value of P6,800.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

ORMOC CITY– The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 4th District Engineering Office (DEO) breaks ground on the construction of a P 70 million multi-purpose facility (Bagsakan) in Ormoc City, Leyte, funded under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2024.

The two-story building, which includes a mezzanine, will span a total floor area of 2,731.59 sq. m. The ground and second floors cover 1,946.34 sq. m. while the mezzanine adds 785.25 sq. m.

The facility will be equipped with 128 stalls for wet and dry goods, male and female comfort rooms, an administrative office, utility room, cold storage, view decks and an elevator for improved accessibility.

Once completed, the Bagsakan Facility will help improve and organize the city’s market operations by offering proper stalls for street vendors and those without designated selling spaces. This will ensure a safer and more efficient environment for both vendors and customers.

Congressman Richard I. Gomez and city councilors attended the groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, September 4, 2024. (PR)