CATARMAN,N. Samar-The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Northern Samar First District Engineering Office has successfully completed Phase 1 of the Circumferential Road, providing improved transportation access for locals and farmers in Barangay Kailingan, Rosario, Northern Samar.

The project involves Construction of roads with a total length of 1.01 lane km; 505 meters length (2-lanes, thk=0.23m,cw=3.05m) which includes drainage structures, embankment of 9,014.80 cu.m., slope protection (Sta.0+060-Sta.0+260,Sta.0+298-339 and Sta.0+486-526); and Road Opening of 21m length at Sta.000+505-Sta.000+526.

District Engineer Alvin A. Ignacio stated that the district allocated a total of Php 28.93 million for the completion of Phase 1 with plans to implement the remaining sections in the coming years to bring further transport relief to locals specially farmers who face difficulties in transporting their products.

In an interview, Raymundo D. Ballicud, Brgy. Captain of Brgy. Kailingan, Rosario, N. Samar said that the completion of this project has greatly improved transportation, enabling faster deliveries of farm products to neighboring barangays.

“Ako la gin-papasalamatan ini nga inabot sa amon nga proyekto. Dako-dako nga bulig para sa amon barangay tungod kay sadto nga wara pa ini kahihimo makuri didi an pagpagawas sa amon mga produkto pakadto sa luyo nga barangay. Nag-iiha, nalulupa nala an mga kopras bago maka-abot sa luyo nga barangay. Sa yana, nga nahimo na in ini, mas masayon na an transportasyon sa mga produkto ngadi sa uma pakadi ngadto sa iba nga barangay ngan mas masayon na an amo pagpasyada liwat ngadto sa luyo san barangay san San Jose labi na kay sementado na ini nga amon dalan. Nagpapasalamat ako sa DPWH, sayo an amon barangay san natagan sin sini nga proyekto, kami nalilipay didi, salamat”.

The completion of Phase 1 is expected to drastically reduce travel time, making the road more accessible to both commuters and transporters of agricultural products.
In the long run, this road will eventually connect 10 far-flung barangays across 6 municipalities in the first district, fostering stronger economic activities and providing new opportunities for local farmers and residents alike.

(ANALIZA A. PABIA, PIO DESIGNATE/PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – A Catholic priest in Leyte has called on the Philippine Army to increase its presence in the province’s third and fourth districts in the days leading up to the election to ensure a fair, peaceful, and secure voting process.

Fr. Edwin Perito, a civil society organization representative in the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), emphasized that a stronger military and police presence in villages would help deter election-related crimes and violence.

“We are requesting the army and police to be visible in every village, or at least in sub-villages, especially in the third and fourth districts before the elections, to ensure that voters are not intimidated when casting their votes,” he said.

He stressed that the presence of uniformed personnel would contribute to a peaceful and orderly election.

In response, Brigadier General Noel Vestuir, commander of the 802nd Infantry Brigade, assured that as deputized personnel of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), they are actively supporting the Philippine National Police (PNP) in maintaining security.

“Even before the elections, we have ongoing coordination with the PNP for deployments. Our monitoring continues, and we have strategic plans in place alongside the PNP and COMELEC to ensure security in key areas,” B/Gen. Vestuir said.

The military is currently assisting police forces across its entire jurisdiction, including the third and fourth districts of Leyte, by conducting checkpoints and security operations, which will continue until Election Day.

According to COMELEC’s classification of election hotspots, several towns in Leyte’s third and fourth districts fall under different security categories:

Green Category (no security concerns): Isabel, Kananga, Matag-ob, Merida, and Ormoc City.

Yellow Category (history of election-related violence, partisan rivalry, or private armed groups): Albuera, Palompon, and Villaba.

Orange Category (serious threats due to insurgency and presence of multiple risk factors): Calubian, Leyte, San Isidro, and Tabango.

Authorities are closely monitoring these areas to prevent any incidents that could disrupt the electoral process.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)