ORMOC CITY— A heated argument between two farmer brothers escalated into violence, leaving the younger sibling wounded after a hacking incident Saturday afternoon, January 17, in Purok 3, Barangay San Vicente, Catbalogan City.

Police identified the victim as alias “Bet,” 22, with a common-law wife, while the suspect was identified as his elder brother, alias “Mar,” 28. Both are farmers and residents of Purok 3, Barangay San Vicente, Catbalogan City.

In a report submitted to the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8), Catbalogan City Police said they received information from the barangay captain regarding the incident. Responding officers immediately proceeded to the area to verify the report and conduct an investigation.

Upon arrival, police said the suspect had already been subdued and turned over by barangay tanods to the responding Philippine National Police personnel.

Initial investigation revealed that the suspect, following a heated verbal altercation with his brother, armed himself with a long bolo locally known as a “sundang” and launched several hacking blows. The victim managed to parry the attack but sustained a defensive wound on his right hand.

Police said the suspect was brought to the Catbalogan City Police Station for proper disposition, while the victim was rushed to the Samar Provincial Hospital for medical treatment.

(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY — More than 1,400 rice farmers from northern municipalities of Eastern Samar have received financial assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA) as part of the government’s continued support for the farming sector.

A total of 1,403 farmers benefited from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund–Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA) program, which was distributed in coordination with DA Regional Office 8. The aid aims to help rice farmers cope with the effects of market liberalization and rising production costs while strengthening agricultural productivity.

The distribution was attended by Eastern Samar lone district Representative Christopher Sheen Gonzales, Governor Ralph Vincent Evardone, provincial agriculturist Virgilio Capon, and officials of the Oras local government unit, led by Vice Mayor Adolfo Mugas and members of the Sangguniang Bayan.

In his message, Rep. Gonzales emphasized the need for sustained government intervention to improve farmers’ welfare and highlighted legislative measures being pushed in Congress to further support the agriculture sector, in coordination with House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Representative Marcelino Libanan.

Gonzales also paid tribute to farmers, recognizing their crucial role in ensuring food security and driving rural development. He reiterated the commitment of both Congress and the provincial government to continue implementing programs that promote the welfare of farmers and strengthen the broader agricultural sector.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

Fuse Financing Inc. (Fuse), the lending arm of GCash, is now giving free insurance coverage to GLoan borrowers with GLoan Protect. Available for a limited time, this newest feature provides borrowers with free loan and health insurance for every GLoan disbursement worth a minimum of P500, underwritten by Oona Insurance Corporation. This free insurance will waive pending loan balance in case of sudden customer demise or accident-related permanent disability, and provide resources to recover from medical emergencies.

Life and health emergencies can strike unexpectedly. For many Filipinos, sudden medical expenses or unexpected urgent costs can quickly lead to financial distress. Hospitalization and medical costs often result in heavy debt, while the lack of insurance leaves families with limited options to recover financially.

“Oftentimes, Filipinos don’t think of insurance until it’s too late,” said Tony Isidro, President and CEO of Fuse Financing Inc., the lending arm of GCash. “With the free insurance, we’re making sure that every time someone gets a GLoan, they also get a safety net. It’s our way of helping users feel more secure and protected without them having to spend extra.”
By integrating protection into GLoan, GCash—through Fuse and GInsure, the digital insurance platform of GCash with inclusive insurance products across 11 categories including health, life, accident, travel, vehicle, and more —offers borrowers added peace of mind and a safety net against life’s uncertainties.

Under GLoan Protect, the free health insurance covers a hospitalization allowance given to all eligible users who avail of a GLoan worth a minimum amount of P500 moving forward. Users can claim a minimum of P500 or up to 10% of the total loan value when they get confined in the hospital for a minimum stay of 3 days.

The loan insurance benefit is automatically activated once a customer receives their loan proceeds from GLoan, and coverage remains constant and valid until the end of the loan term even when the customer fully pays off their loan earlier than the loan’s due date. In case of customer demise or accident-related permanent disability, beneficiaries will receive the remaining loan value, and the remaining balance will be waived and settled.

The policy will automatically appear in the GInsure dashboard, making the process simple and familiar for borrowers. Claims can be filed through the same steps used for other GInsure products.

“We see this synergy between Fuse and GInsure as part of our mission to reimagine what finance can do for every Filipino,” said Winsley Bangit, Group Head of New Businesses at Mynt, the parent company of GCash. “By combining credit and insurance on a single service, we’re pushing the boundaries of digital innovation to give Filipinos not just access to funding, but also the protection they deserve. It’s another step toward building a more inclusive and resilient financial ecosystem.”

GCash made this initiative possible in partnership with Oona Insurance Corporation, a wholly-owned company by Oona Philippines Holdings Corporation (OPHC), actively expanding into health and digital-first solutions that meet the needs of today’s consumers. Through this partnership, GCash is bringing essential protection to more Filipinos by integrating coverage directly into its widely used digital services.

“Our mission at Oona is to make protection part of everyday life, not something out of reach. By making coverage automatic and effortless, we take an important step toward closing the protection gap and ensuring more Filipinos have the security to move forward with confidence.” said Abhishek Bhatia, Founder and CEO of Oona Insurance. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY— The provincial government of Northern Samar through its Provincial Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office (PEDIPO), in coordination with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), has conducted a series of coordination meetings with concerned local government units as part of preparations for the proposed Catarman–Allen–Victoria Transmission Loop, a project aimed at reducing brownouts and improving power reliability in Northern Samar.

Provincial officials said the planned transmission loop is designed to strengthen and add flexibility to the province’s power transmission system by providing alternative routes for electricity during outages, particularly those caused by tripper incidents along the Palanas–Cara transmission line.

Discussions during the meetings focused on system planning, site requirements, land use considerations, and the support needed from local government units to facilitate the implementation of the project. The transmission loop is also expected to support the integration of renewable energy sources and help meet the province’s growing electricity demand.

A coordination meeting with the local government unit of Victoria, attended by NGCP and PEDIPO officials and held in the presence of Mayor Joey Ardales, centered on the proposed construction of a five-hectare substation in the municipality, including the development of an access road.

The Victoria substation was identified as a key component of the transmission loop, as it will provide an alternative power route during system disturbances, particularly those affecting the Palanas–Cara Substation.

Separately, PEDIPO and NGCP also met with the local government unit of Catarman, through the efforts of Mayor Dianne Rosales, to discuss plans for a proposed two-hectare switching station. The meeting tackled the proposed site location and coordination requirements needed to move the project forward.

Once completed, the Catarman switching station is expected to enhance system flexibility and contribute to a more reliable electricity supply for Catarman and nearby communities.
Provincial officials said the coordination activities reflect the Northern Samar provincial government’s commitment to strengthening power infrastructure, supporting renewable energy integration, and improving electricity service across the province.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)