Tacloban City — Eastern Visayas recorded a dramatic drop in trade activity in November 2025, with total exports and imports plunging by 98.1 percent and 96.8 percent, respectively, compared to the same month in 2024.

Exports for the month totaled USD 3.48 million, down from USD 185.02 million in November 2024, while imports fell to USD 15.07 million from USD 465.44 million.
The decline narrowed the region’s trade deficit to USD 11.59 million, a 95.9 percent decrease from the USD 280.42 million deficit a year earlier. Overall, total trade amounted to USD 18.55 million, representing a 97.1 percent drop from USD 650.46 million in November 2024.

Despite the sharp decline in value, the volume of exported goods actually increased to 113.35 million kilograms, up 43.8 percent from 78.85 million kilograms the previous year.
The bulk of exports came from ores, slag, and ash, valued at USD 3.13 million or nearly 90 percent of total exports. The People’s Republic of China remained the top export destination, accounting for USD 2.98 million, or 85.7 percent of total exports.

On the import side, the region brought in 121.09 million kilograms of goods, a 42.5 percent decrease from November 2024. Salt, sulphur, earths and stone, plastering materials, lime, and cement were the top import commodities, valued at USD 4.97 million and representing one-third of total import value. The Republic of Korea supplied USD 3.33 million worth of imports, or 22.1 percent of the total.

The figures highlight a significant contraction in Eastern Visayas’ trade activity in late 2025, though the increase in export volume indicates that the region continues to move substantial goods despite declining values.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY– The national government has allocated P41 billion this year to help underprivileged students attend private high schools in areas where public schools are unavailable or overcrowded, House Minority Leader and 4Ps party-list Representative Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan said Monday, March 9.

The funding is expected to benefit around 2.58 million students from low-income households, enabling them to complete their secondary education without the financial burden of tuition fees.

Libanan emphasized that the subsidy is crucial at a time when many families face economic challenges and students are at risk of dropping out to seek immediate employment.

“The P41 billion allocation is not just an education policy — it’s an economic safeguard for families and our future workforce,” Libanan said. “Supporting students through financial hardship gives them a real chance to finish their studies and break the cycle of poverty.”
The allocation is distributed across three programs: P12.3 billion for the Junior High School Educational Service Contracting Program (JHSESC), which allows graduates of public elementary schools to enroll in Grades 7 to 10 in private high schools contracted by the Department of Education (DepEd); P26.5 billion for the Senior High School Voucher Program (SHSVP), providing tuition grants for Grade 10 completers to enroll in Grades 11 and 12 in participating private schools; and P2.2 billion for the Joint Delivery Voucher Program (JDVP), which supports senior high school students in the technical-vocational-livelihood track attending private institutions or specialized non-DepEd schools.

Data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education shows that student dropouts remain a concern. In the 2024–2025 school year, 169,836 of 2,041,601 Grade 11 students — or 8.3 percent — did not advance to Grade 12.

The DepEd and the Private Education Assistance Committee jointly manage the JHSESC and SHSVP, while the JDVP is administered solely by DepEd. Libanan said these programs aim to keep more students in school, particularly those in economically vulnerable households, and ensure a steady pipeline of skilled graduates for the workforce.

(LIZBETH ANN A.ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY — A delegation from the Department of National Defense (DND) visited Northern Samar on March 4 to evaluate the province’s peace-building initiatives and reintegration programs for former rebels.

The team, led by Marcelo Valdez Jr., inspected the Balay Darangpan Reintegration Center, a halfway house established by the provincial government to help former members of insurgent groups transition back to civilian life.

Located in the provincial capital of Catarman, the facility serves as a temporary shelter where former rebels undergo counseling, livelihood preparation, and community reintegration activities.

During the visit, the delegation also held a dialogue with beneficiaries currently undergoing the program.

Valdez commended the provincial government for its sustained commitment to peace initiatives, noting that Northern Samar’s recognition as the 2025 Best Implementer of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) reflects its strong support for former rebels seeking to return to mainstream society.

He also noted that the Balay Darangpan facility has remained functional and responsive to the needs of its residents since it was established.

Currently, the center houses the 10th batch of peacebuilders, who are undergoing a three-month reintegration program consisting of several modules aimed at helping them rebuild their lives and reconnect with their families and communities. The participants are expected to graduate later this month.

The Balay Darangpan program is implemented through the Provincial E-CLIP Committee in partnership with the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), Task Force Balik-Loob member agencies, local government units, and non-government organizations.

Following the facility visit, the DND delegation proceeded to the provincial capitol where they met with members of the provincial task force to discuss updates on the peace and security situation in Northern Samar.

Officials presented developments related to people’s organizations, the implementation of the E-CLIP, and other initiatives aimed at sustaining peace and reintegration efforts in the province.

The meeting also allowed local officials to seek guidance from national government representatives on how to further strengthen programs supporting former rebels as they return to normal life.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)