ORMOC CITY— Three houses were destroyed in a fire believed to have been triggered by faulty electrical wiring on Thursday morning, February 26, in Barangay Sto. Niño, Abuyog, Leyte.
The blaze broke out at around 8:30 a.m., prompting residents to alert authorities through a mobile phone call. Responding personnel from the local police and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) immediately proceeded to the area to conduct firefighting and security operations.
Initial investigation by the BFP-Abuyog indicated that the fire allegedly started inside the house of alias “Bern,” 71, married and jobless. Investigators said the structure, which was made of light materials, may have caught fire due to faulty electrical wiring.
The flames quickly spread to adjacent houses owned by aliases “Perie,” 79, a widower, and “Lucie,” both residents of Barangay Sto. Niño. Their homes, built with a combination of concrete and light materials, were also engulfed by the fire.
The BFP declared the fire under control at about 8:50 a.m. No injuries or casualties were reported.
Damage to property was estimated at P185,000.
Authorities said a thorough investigation is still ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident.
TACLOBAN CITY — With just weeks before the March 13, 2026 cutoff, government peace officials are urging qualified former rebels in Eastern Visayas to file their amnesty applications or risk losing the opportunity for legal relief and reintegration.
During a media briefing here on February 26, representatives of the Local Amnesty Boards (LAB) and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) said processing of applications is ongoing but emphasized that submissions will no longer be accepted after the deadline.
Bhea Janine Gozo of LAB Tacloban called on eligible applicants to complete their documentary requirements and personally appear before their respective boards.
“Qualified applicants should submit their documents and appear before the board as soon as possible to avoid missing the deadline,” Gozo said.
Data presented during the briefing showed strong response to the amnesty program across Eastern Visayas.
The Local Amnesty Board Tacloban has received 610 applications as of February 26. Of these, 576 applicants are from Leyte, 13 from Eastern Samar, 11 from Southern Leyte, five from Northern Samar, four from Samar province, and one from Region IV-A.
Meanwhile, the Local Amnesty Board Catbalogan reported 1,253 applications. Of the total, 847 are under verification, 276 are scheduled for case conference, and 130 have been resolved and transmitted to the National Amnesty Commission for final action.
Separate data showed that 57 applications have been processed under the Local Amnesty Board covering Tacloban City and nearby areas, including 53 applicants from Leyte and four from Eastern Samar.
Under the amnesty program, applicants must take an oath of allegiance to the government and submit supporting documents for identity verification and case evaluation.
Local Amnesty Boards are responsible for receiving and assessing applications, validating the identity of applicants, and endorsing qualified individuals to the National Amnesty Commission for approval.
The initiative forms part of the national government’s broader peace and reconciliation agenda aimed at helping former combatants return to mainstream society without fear of prosecution for covered offenses, while promoting lasting stability in conflict-affected communities.
Officials stressed that there is no indication yet whether the national government will extend the March 13 deadline.
“We encourage those who are qualified not to wait until the last minute,” a LAB representative said, underscoring that applications filed beyond the deadline will no longer be entertained.
ACCOMPLISHMENT. The Police Regional Office(PRO-8) under B/Gen.Jason Capoy, reported of major arrests involving in the illegal drug trade in the different parts of the region. (PRO-8 FACEBOOK)
ACCOMPLISHMENT. The Police Regional Office(PRO-8) under B/Gen.Jason Capoy, reported of major arrests involving in the illegal drug trade in the different parts of the region. (PRO-8 FACEBOOK)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) reported the voluntary surrender of three alleged drug personalities in Eastern and Northern Samar on February 23, 2026, as part of its intensified anti-illegal drug campaign.
Under the leadership of Regional Director B/Gen. Jason Capoy, PRO-8 said sustained community engagement and focused police operations contributed to the surrender of the individuals.
Personnel of the Borongan City Police Station conducted a house-to-house campaign aimed at encouraging listed drug personalities to stop their involvement in illegal drugs and avail themselves of government intervention programs.
The initiative led to the surrender of alias “Lim,” 40, a traffic enforcer classified as a high-value individual (HVI) from Borongan City.
In Balangiga, operatives of the Balangiga Municipal Police Station, through its Municipal Drug Enforcement Unit, intensified anti-drug advocacy efforts through community visits and dialogues.
This resulted in the surrender of alias “Xander,” 28, a construction worker identified as a street-level individual (SLI). He presented himself at the Balangiga police station for documentation and proper disposition in accordance with established procedures.
Meanwhile, in Northern Samar, alias “Nard,” 28, an SLI and resident of San Antonio town, voluntarily appeared at the San Antonio Municipal Police Station and admitted involvement in illegal drug use. Police conducted initial intervention measures, including counseling and reiteration of the harmful effects and legal consequences of prohibited drugs.
Capoy commended the operating units for their sustained and strategic efforts, emphasizing that the accomplishment underscores PRO-8’s commitment to clearing communities of illegal drugs through a balanced approach of enforcement and rehabilitation.
“The voluntary surrender of these individuals manifests the growing trust and cooperation between the community and the police. We will continue to intensify our campaign against illegal drugs in support of the thrust of Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. to strengthen law enforcement initiatives while providing opportunities for reform and reintegration,” Capoy said.
SAFETY KITS. The Department of Tourism (DOT-8) in the region distributed emergency safety kits to trained tourism frontliners, part of its campaign to make destinations in Eastern Visayas more prepared for medical emergencies. (DOT-EASTERN VISAYAS)
SAFETY KITS. The Department of Tourism (DOT-8) in the region distributed emergency safety kits to trained tourism frontliners, part of its campaign to make destinations in Eastern Visayas more prepared for medical emergencies. (DOT-EASTERN VISAYAS)
TACLOBAN CITY — In a bid to strengthen safety standards across tourism sites in Leyte, the regional office of the Department of Tourism (DOT-8) has distributed emergency safety kits to trained tourism frontliners, reinforcing efforts to make destinations in Eastern Visayas more prepared for medical emergencies.
The turnover ceremony was held on February 23, 2026, benefiting 25 graduates who completed the Standard First Aid and Basic Life Support–Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) with Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training conducted in December 2025. The recipients represented various tourism establishments across Leyte province.
They were joined by business owners and establishment representatives, bringing total attendance during the activity to 45 participants.
According to DOT-8, the safety kits are intended to help trained personnel immediately apply their life-saving skills within their workplaces, ensuring faster response during accidents or health-related incidents involving guests and staff.
The initiative highlights the growing emphasis on safety and resilience in the tourism sector, especially as visitor arrivals continue to rebound and destinations aim to meet higher standards of preparedness.
The activity was led by DOT-8 Regional Director Karina Tiopes, in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross, represented by Chapter Service Representative Byron Apostol, a volunteer instructor, and the chapter’s focal person for Fund Generation Services.
Aside from distributing safety kits, the Red Cross team also introduced the Safe Card accidental insurance program, encouraging tourism stakeholders to invest in additional risk protection mechanisms.
For Donna Fe Abogado Batan of Viaje Holidays, one of the beneficiaries, the training and equipment provided a sense of empowerment.
“Through this training, I gained confidence, courage, and readiness to act when lives depend on it,” Abogado said.
DOT-8 emphasized that the initiative forms part of its continuing capacity-building program aimed at professionalizing the tourism workforce in Eastern Visayas.
By equipping frontliners with practical skills and essential tools, the agency hopes to enhance visitor safety, protect businesses from potential liabilities, and promote the region as a secure and responsible travel destination.
Officials said strengthening emergency preparedness at the establishment level is a crucial step toward building resilient tourism communities capable of responding effectively to unforeseen incidents.
INSPIRATION. Visual and performing artists showcase their talents during the National Arts Month kickoff on Thursday, Feb. 26, at Robinsons Place Tacloban in Abucay. Students from various schools across the city flocked to the venue to view the artworks and performances, drawing inspiration from Tacloban’s vibrant creative community. (PHOTO COURTESY)
‘Himurasak’
INSPIRATION. Visual and performing artists showcase their talents during the National Arts Month kickoff on Thursday, Feb. 26, at Robinsons Place Tacloban in Abucay. Students from various schools across the city flocked to the venue to view the artworks and performances, drawing inspiration from Tacloban’s vibrant creative community. (PHOTO COURTESY)
TACLOBAN CITY — Creativity and culture took the spotlight as local artists opened this year’s National Arts Month celebration with “Himurasak,” an arts festival that organizers say reflects both abundance and the city’s thriving creative spirit.
Now on its eighth year, the annual celebration kicked off Thursday, Feb. 26, at the activity area of Robinsons Place Tacloban in Abucay, drawing painters, musicians, performers, cultural advocates, and students from across the city.
Supported by the Tacloban city government under Mayor Alfred Romualdez, the festival is spearheaded by Councilor Dandee Grafil, chair of the city council’s committee on culture and the arts.
The program also featured spoken poetry presentations from students of ABE Tacloban, along with energetic dance performances by the STEFTI Dance Company and ACLC Dance Academy.
“This event, which carries the theme ‘Himurasak’ this year, is now on its eighth year. It started small, but over time it has gained strong support—not only from the art community but from the city government itself,” Grafil said in an interview.
“Himurasak,” a local term meaning abundance, was chosen to symbolize both the growth of the festival and the flourishing arts scene in Tacloban.
According to Grafil, the city is home to a diverse pool of talent spanning visual arts, music, and performance, many of whom are now being given broader platforms to showcase their work.
“We have so many artists here in Tacloban—both in music and in the visual arts. They need spaces where their creativity can be seen and appreciated,” he said.
This year’s staging at Robinsons marks the first time the celebration has been held inside a major commercial venue, signaling wider institutional backing and stronger public engagement. Previous editions were held at Rizal Park, which is currently undergoing renovation.
Grafil also revealed that the city council, through his initiative, passed a resolution endorsing cultural mapping efforts in coordination with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
Cultural mapping is a process that documents local heritage, creative assets, traditions, and artistic resources—an important step toward long-term cultural planning and preservation.
He added that arts and culture are now recognized components under the Seal of Good Local Governance program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, further institutionalizing support for creative initiatives at the local level.
For Tacloban’s artists, the festival is more than a celebration—it is a statement that the city’s creative industry is alive, expanding, and increasingly woven into its development agenda.
As “Himurasak” unfolds, organizers hope the annual gathering will continue to grow, nurturing not only artistic talent but also civic pride rooted in culture and shared expression.
LAND TITLING DRIVE. The Department of Agrarian Reform–Leyte sets its sights on reconstituting and registering 42,000 hectares of agrarian reform lands in 2026 under Project SPLIT—more than half of Eastern Visayas’ target—aimed at converting collective CLOAs into individual e-titles to strengthen farmers’ land security and access to credit. The program is funded by the World Bank in partnership with the Philippine government.(DAR-LEYTE)
The biggest in the region
LAND TITLING DRIVE. The Department of Agrarian Reform–Leyte sets its sights on reconstituting and registering 42,000 hectares of agrarian reform lands in 2026 under Project SPLIT—more than half of Eastern Visayas’ target—aimed at converting collective CLOAs into individual e-titles to strengthen farmers’ land security and access to credit. The program is funded by the World Bank in partnership with the Philippine government.(DAR-LEYTE)
TACLOBAN CITY — In what officials describe as one of the biggest land administration efforts in the region in recent years, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Leyte is targeting the reconstitution and registration of 42,000 hectares of agrarian reform lands in 2026 under the government’s Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (Project SPLIT).
The figure represents more than half of Eastern Visayas’ total 76,000-hectare target, placing Leyte at the forefront of the region’s land titling overhaul.
Project SPLIT is a nationwide program that aims to subdivide collectively awarded Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) and issue individual electronic titles (e-titles) to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).
The initiative addresses long-standing problems stemming from collective land ownership, which in many cases resulted in unclear boundaries, internal disputes among farmer-beneficiaries, and difficulties in transferring or inheriting land rights.
Under past agrarian reform programs, large tracts of land were distributed to groups of farmers under a single collective title. While this accelerated land distribution, it also created administrative and legal complications over time.
Without clearly defined individual landholdings, many beneficiaries faced obstacles in securing bank loans, accessing government support services, or maximizing the economic potential of their farms.
Through parcelization and title reconstitution, Project SPLIT seeks to strengthen land tenure security and formalize individual ownership, thereby enabling farmers to use their land titles as collateral and invest in productivity-enhancing inputs.
DAR Leyte recently convened its Project SPLIT personnel for a strategic planning session to align operational targets and address technical and legal challenges.
Reconstitution activities include validation of beneficiary lists, subdivision and relocation surveys, completion of documentary requirements, and coordination with the Land Registration Authority for the issuance of e-titles.
Leyte has a major responsibility this year, not only to meet its target but also to help the region restore vital land records and ensure beneficiaries receive secure individual titles,” the office said, underscoring the province’s central role in the 2026 implementation.
Project SPLIT is funded by the World Bank with a total project cost of P24.62 billion. Of this amount, P19.24 billion represents loan proceeds, while P5.38 billion is the Philippine government’s counterpart funding.
In Eastern Visayas alone, more than P1 billion has been allocated to carry out the parcelization and titling process.
DAR officials said intensified field operations and inter-agency coordination are crucial to meet the ambitious target, stressing that the program is not merely about paperwork but about unlocking economic opportunities for thousands of farmer-beneficiaries across Leyte and the rest of the region.
