TACLOBAN CITY — Families in Hilongos, Leyte, who were heavily affected by Typhoon ‘Uwan’, received immediate relief assistance from former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and the Tingog party-list following the onslaught of the storm.

Relief goods were distributed on Monday, November 10, after the local government sought help from the office of Romualdez and Tingog, which promptly responded to the call for support.

Neil Melvin Flordelis of the Hilongos Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (LDRRMO) expressed gratitude for the swift response.

“On behalf of the people of Hilongos, we sincerely thank you for the aid you extended. Even with the short notice we gave, you quickly acted and delivered much-needed help.”
Flooding has been a recurring challenge in Hilongos due to its low-lying terrain and proximity to rivers, making the town one of the hardest hit in Eastern Visayas during Typhoon Uwan.

Hilongos has previously benefited from the assistance of Romualdez and Tingog party-list through various livelihood, health, and disaster-response programs. Their latest initiative once again underscored their commitment to helping communities recover and rebuild in times of crisis.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Police operatives in Leyte arrested two suspected drug personalities in separate buy-bust operations conducted within 24 hours in the municipalities of Isabel and Palompon, the Leyte Police Provincial Office (LPPO) reported.

Under the leadership of Provincial Director P/ Col.Dionisio DC Apas Jr., LPPO sustained its intensified anti-drug campaign with two successful operations carried out on November 9, 2025.

In the first operation, Isabel Municipal Police Station arrested a suspect identified as alias “Troy,” 36, a habal-habal driver and resident of Barangay Monte Alegre, Isabel. The suspect, listed as a street-level individual (SLI), was apprehended after selling a sachet of suspected shabu to a police poseur-buyer. Seized from him were 10 sachets of suspected shabu, buy-bust money, a plastic container, and a motorcycle used in the transaction.

Later that afternoon, the Palompon Municipal Police Station conducted another buy-bust operation in Sitio Malasugi, Barangay Mazawalo, Palompon, which led to the arrest of alias “Odo,” 35, a resident of the area. The suspect, also identified as an SLI, was caught selling suspected shabu to an undercover agent. Confiscated from him were four sachets of suspected shabu, buy-bust money, and a plastic container.

Both operations were conducted in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). Documentation and inventory of the seized items were witnessed by barangay officials and media representatives.

The suspects are currently detained at their respective police stations and will face charges for violating Sections 5 and 11, Article I.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY– In commemoration of the 12th anniversary of Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ (Haiyan), the Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU), through its Office of Internationalization for Higher Education under the Office of the Vice President for Student Development, Internationalization, and External Affairs, hosted an international webinar titled “From Tragedy to Transformation: Global Insights on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM)” in partnership with the Embassy of the Czech Republic.

The online event, attended by nearly 500 participants from various universities in the Philippines and abroad, provided a platform for global and local experts to share lessons and strategies on disaster resilience and recovery.

In her solidarity message, Hon. Eva Tenzin, Head of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Czech Republic, speaking on behalf of H.E. Karel Hejc, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Philippines, reaffirmed her country’s commitment to disaster risk reduction and management. She emphasized the importance of international cooperation in building resilient and adaptive communities.

Three distinguished speakers served as resource persons during the webinar: Mr. Eisuke Tachikawa, Design Strategist and CEO of Nosigner (Tokyo, Japan), who presented innovative design approaches for disaster communication and resilience; Dr. Jake Rom D. Cadag, Professor of Geography at the University of the Philippines–Diliman, who discussed the social dimensions of disaster risk and the critical role of community participation in DRRM; and Ms. Julie Ann Culibar, a Disaster Risk Reduction Specialist, who shared practical insights on local implementation and capacity building.

In his message of commitment, EVSU President Dr. Dennis C. De Paz reaffirmed the university’s dedication to advancing global awareness and academic engagement in DRRM. He highlighted EVSU’s vision to become a National University for Resiliency and Climate Action (NURCA)—a hub for education, innovation, and collaboration in addressing climate and disaster challenges.

The successful conduct of the webinar also strengthened EVSU’s partnership with the Embassy of the Czech Republic, which expressed its intent to co-host another DRRM-focused event in 2026. Plans include inviting DRRM experts from the Czech Republic for future webinars or in-person lectures at EVSU.

This growing collaboration underscores both institutions’ shared goal of promoting international linkages and fostering a disaster-resilient academic community—proving that from tragedy can emerge transformation, cooperation, and hope.

(Faustito A. Aure, MRD, Director, Office of Internationalization for Higher Education)