Catarman N. Samar-Residents along the coast of Brgy. San Lazaro in Victoria town will no longer worry against big waves and flooding as the Department of Public Works and Highways – Northern Samar 1st District Engineering Office completed the construction of P96.47-M seawall project.

The project involves the construction of a 387-meter reinforced concrete revetment resting on sheet piles and a 13-meter section on a structural concrete foundation. The scope of work also includes the placement of 620.70 cubic meters of rubble concrete and the construction of the necessary embankment works to ensure the structural stability and long-term performance of the shoreline protection system.

Before the seawall project, residents have always feared the big waves brought about by the severe weather condition.

“Usa po ako nga nagpapasalamat,dako-dako an pasalamat namon sine yana nga bag-o nga seawall tungod kay dako-dako gud nga protection sa amon,labi na kun mga maraot an panahon, nakakaharang san amon didi lalo na kun daragko an balud, irog siton.mga kahoy nga gin-aaranod,deri na nakakadi sa kalsada ngan maupay na an amon pag-agi,nakakalakaw-lakaw na kami lalo pa kun magjogging-jogging na may mga edad na kami,nakakalakaw-lakaw na kami sin maupay.Dako-dako gud talaga am pasalamat siton duon.” said Mrs. Elizabeth Heras

Another resident, Irene H. Gewabe, recalled the fear and hardship she experienced during Typhoon Tisoy.

“Sadto po kasi san Bagyo nga Tisoy nag-hibi na ako sadto sa kahadlok kay daragkuon an balud,waray pa sadto seawall,ngan yana maupay naman kay mayda na seawall.”
While Brgy. Captain Esteban C. Francisco III also expressed his thoughts about the newly completed project.

“An dako nga benepisyo nga nahimo iton yana nga seawall kay san una, an amon sadto baybay/gilid sa dagat talaga dako nga damaged permi kun naabot an kalamidad.So,dako an naiban san amon area san amon piliw san dagat tungod san waray nakakapugong or nakaka-balabag nga san mga balod nga natama dida san Baybay. So ine yana nga nahimo nga seawall,dako ine nga benipisyo nga ginhatag sa barangay tungod san dako nga proteksyon dire la sa barangay kundi sa tanan nga ada nangangabuhi sa dagat sugad san mga parag isda.Dako an benepisyo kay tungod an mga balay nga adi sa gilid sa dagat,vulnerable gud kami sa mga kalamidad labi na kun mga bagyo,naabot an sugad siton tsunami or kun mayda an tsunami warning.Dako an amon gamit sine ngan benepisyo nga narereceived kaupayan san komunidad san Brgy. San Lazaro.”

District Engineer Alvin A. Ignacio said that aside from the protection benefits, residents and visitors can now also enjoy activities like walking and sight-seeing along the seawall.
San Lazaro is a coastal barangay in the Municipality of Victoria, where fishing serves as the primary source of livelihood for many residents.

The project was constructed on June 09,2025 and was completed on April 21, 2026.

ANALIZA A. PABIA/PR

TACLOBAN CITY — The municipality of Burauen in Leyte has inaugurated on July 20 what local officials described as the first wastewater treatment facility built for a public market in Eastern Visayas, a P17-million project aimed at preventing untreated wastewater from reaching the environment.

The facility, located at the Burauen Commercial Complex, was designed to collect, treat and properly dispose of wastewater generated by the town’s busiest commercial area.
The local government said the facility has an estimated annual treatment capacity of 23.4 million liters and is expected to improve sanitation, reduce water pollution and help protect nearby water resources.

Mayor Fe Sudario-Renomeron led the inauguration of the facility, which forms part of the municipal government’s efforts to strengthen public sanitation and promote more sustainable environmental management.

“The facility aims to safeguard public health, protect water quality, and strengthen responsible environmental management by treating wastewater before it is discharged into the environment,” the local government said in a statement.

The project is expected to improve sanitation conditions at the commercial complex by ensuring that wastewater undergoes treatment before disposal, reducing the risk of pollution in surrounding waterways and other natural resources.

The treated water may also be reused for non-potable domestic activities, including watering plants and cleaning, further supporting the municipality’s efforts to promote water conservation.

Burauen is a first-income-class municipality in Leyte with a population of 54,635. It is located about 42 kilometers south of Tacloban City, the regional capital.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

Brgy. Burabud Laoang Northern Samar – Demonstrating its unwavering commitment to helping children build their future, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Northern Samar Second District Engineering Office (DPWH NSSDEO) has completed the Construction of School Building, San Isidro National High School, Brgy. San Isidro, Las Navas, Northern Samar, on May 9, 2026.

This classroom has a contract amount of P9,953,777.48, which includes the construction of a 7.0m x 27.0m with 2.5m corridor One Storey, three Classroom School Building with front and rear windows with window grilles, handwashing area on both sides, Persons with Disability (PWD) ramp with handrails, reinforced concrete gutter and parapet wall, and with complete electrical and plumbing works.

School Head, Judex Obiado expressed his gratitude for the project, highlighting its role in improving learning conditions for Las Navas students while investing in the future of the youth and the country.

“Darako an pakabulig sine nga bag o nga school building para makab-ot sine nga lugar, sine nga iskwelahan an kalidad nga edukasyon nga gin uungara san kada pamilya nga magkayaon sin maupay nga kabubuwason ine nga kabataan ngan maging productive citizenry san aton nasyon”.

He likewise thanked the national government, through the DPWH NSSDEO for making the project possible, noting that the school’s student population continues to increase each year.

“Salamat san ato gobyerno pinaagi san ato DPWH nga mau an naghanap sin pamaagi nga maitindog ine nga school building dinhi sine nga bag o nga school site sa San Isidro National High School, Las Navas. Darako an pakabulig sine san mga kabataan nga nangingiskwela labihan kay kada tuig nauminto gudman an kadamo san kabataan nga nangingiskwela”.

According to DPWH NSSDEO Project Engineer Miriam O. Engo, this new facility will benefit students from Barangays San Isidro, Ipao, Sag-od, and Aguinaldo. It allows students from neighboring barangays to study with less effort, time, and expense. With this safe and well-ventilated learning environment, students now have a comfortable learning environment protected from adverse weather conditions. This enables them to focus on their studies and enjoy equal opportunities for quality education.

Grade 12 student John Paul Aurel and Grade 11 student Anie Rose G. Obiado also shared their experiences having the main problem of the school to be the lack of classroom, “lack of classroom kay an duha nga section, kailangan ig- combine sa sayo la nga classroom, and danay ginhahalf la or gintutunga la an sayo nga classroom sa duha nga section, so iton talaga an primary nga problem didi”.

With the completion of the new classroom building, DPWH-NSSDEO reaffirms its commitment to provide safe and quality infrastructure for learners. By addressing classroom congestion, more students in Las Navas can now enjoy a comfortable, safe, and conducive learning environment. DPWH-NSSDEO will continue building facilities that promotes quality education and helps shape a brighter future for the youth.

(Jamaica I. Acebuche/PR)

TACLOBAN CITY — Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, has urged Eastern Visayans to help defend the country’s maritime rights by countering misinformation and disinformation surrounding the long-running dispute with China.

Tarriela made the call during a radio interview over RMN Tacloban, saying the Philippines’ struggle in asserting its sovereign rights in the WPS is not limited to the presence of Chinese vessels in the disputed waters but also involves the spread of false and misleading information.

He said narratives designed to confuse Filipinos and undermine the country’s legal position in the WPS are being circulated online, making it increasingly difficult for the public to distinguish facts from misinformation.

The problem becomes more serious when such narratives are repeated by public figures, politicians and social media influencers, whose large followings can quickly amplify false information, Tarriela said.

He urged Filipinos to use social media responsibly by reporting false information and sharing verified and factual information on the maritime dispute.

“Even from our homes, we can contribute to the defense of our country by preventing the spread of misinformation and ensuring that our fellow Filipinos receive accurate information about the West Philippine Sea,” Tarriela said.

The Philippines has consistently asserted its maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea based on the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s sweeping claims over nearly the entire South China Sea. China, however, has rejected the ruling and continues to assert its claims over areas also claimed by the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries.
Tarriela said public awareness and education are essential in ensuring that Filipinos understand the country’s rights and interests in the disputed waters.

He said the PCG is working with the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education to incorporate discussions on the West Philippine Sea into school curricula.

For out-of-school youth, Tarriela said parents have an important role in providing accurate information, describing the issue as an intergenerational concern that requires sustained public awareness.

He also highlighted the government’s Kadiwa sa Bayaning Mangingisda program, supported by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which seeks to assist Filipino fishermen and enable them to continue fishing safely in the country’s maritime zones.

Despite continuing tensions in the disputed waters, Tarriela expressed optimism that the issue would eventually be resolved peacefully through adherence to international law and stronger support from the international community, including members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

He said the defense of the West Philippine Sea is a shared responsibility that extends beyond the national government and the PCG.

“Protecting our maritime rights is not solely the responsibility of President Marcos or the Philippine Coast Guard. It is the responsibility of every Filipino,” Tarriela said.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)