TACLOBAN CITY — The University of the Philippines (UP) Board of Regents has approved the elevation of UP Tacloban College into the ninth constituent university of the UP System, marking a historic development for higher education in Eastern Visayas.

The approval was granted during the 1409th Meeting of the UP Board of Regents held at the UP Asian Institute of Tourism in Quezon City.

House Committee on Higher and Technical Education Chairperson and Tingog party-list Representative Jude Acidre welcomed the decision, describing it as a major milestone not only for the region but also for the country’s national university.

Acidre, who serves as a member of the UP Board of Regents and is also an alumnus of UP Tacloban, said the elevation recognizes decades of academic excellence, public service, institutional resilience, and regional leadership demonstrated by the university.

“This is more than an institutional milestone. It is a recognition of UP Tacloban’s maturity, excellence, resilience, and faithful service to the people of Eastern Visayas,” he said.

He added that the elevation affirms UP Tacloban’s growing role as the University of the Philippines’ primary academic presence in Eastern Visayas, particularly in the fields of disaster resilience, community governance, culture and heritage, regional development, and public service.

Acidre also commended UP Tacloban Dean Patricia Arinto for her presentation before the Board of Regents and for her leadership throughout the transition process.

He likewise congratulated the university’s faculty, students, staff, alumni, administrators, and partners, saying the achievement reflects the collective efforts of generations who contributed to the growth and development of the institution.

“This achievement belongs to everyone who defended, strengthened, and believed in UP Tacloban through the years,” he said.

According to Acidre, the elevation would provide UP Tacloban with a stronger mandate and greater capacity to expand higher education, research, innovation, and public service initiatives in Eastern Visayas and neighboring regions.

“With this elevation, UP Tacloban receives a stronger mandate to serve, to lead, and to grow. It becomes a larger platform for higher education, research, innovation, and public service in our region,” Acidre said.

“The elevation of UP Tacloban as the Ninth Constituent University is a promise fulfilled and a responsibility renewed. It brings UP closer to the people. It allows excellence to grow more deeply in the regions. It gives Eastern Visayas a stronger voice in the national university,” he added.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Residents of Lavezares and nearby towns in Northern Samar can now access improved healthcare services following the inauguration of a new Department of Health (DOH)-funded Super Health Center in Barangay Caragas, Lavezares.

The facility was formally inaugurated by Northern Samar Governor Harris Christopher Ongchuan, Lavezares Mayor Edito Saludaga, and DOH Provincial Officer Dr. Rommel Francisco.

Funded by the national government through the Department of Health, the super health center was established to bring essential medical services closer to communities, particularly those located far from hospitals.

The health facility offers outpatient care, maternal and birthing services, laboratory diagnostics such as x-ray and ultrasound, pharmacy services, and medical and dental consultations. Minor surgical procedures will also be available at the center.

Governor Ongchuan said residents not only from Lavezares but also from neighboring towns such as Biri, Rosario, and San Jose may benefit from the services offered by the facility.

“One of the priorities of my administration as governor is health. This super health center here in Lavezares will not only greatly help our health workers but also the people of Lavezares who will truly benefit from these facilities,” he said.

“We in the provincial government of Northern Samar assure you of our continued support in helping our poor constituents who are in greater need of government services,” the governor added.

The governor also thanked the Department of Health for funding the project, as well as the local government of Lavezares and healthcare workers for their continued efforts in bringing healthcare services closer to communities, especially indigent families.

Lavezares is the third municipality in Northern Samar to establish a DOH-funded Super Health Center.

San Roque was the first municipality in the province to open such a facility and was likewise the first in Eastern Visayas when it was inaugurated in 2023. Catarman became the second municipality in Northern Samar to inaugurate a similar facility in 2025.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – Personnel of the 1st Eastern Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company (1st ESPMFC) harvested fresh vegetables from their “Gulayan sa Kampo” project, showcasing teamwork, self-sufficiency, and community service within the camp premises.
Major Marval Diaz, officer-in-charge, said the activity demonstrated the collective effort and cooperation of 1st ESPMFC personnel in cultivating and maintaining the camp’s vegetable garden.

The harvest yielded fresh vegetables, particularly pechay, which will help augment the nutritional needs of personnel while promoting sustainable food practices inside the camp.
The gardening initiative was spearheaded by PSSg Benedick Quiloña with the active participation of other personnel assigned at the unit.

Some of the harvested vegetables were also shared with personnel and community members passing by the 1st ESPMFC headquarters as part of the unit’s continuing community outreach efforts.

According to Major Diaz, the “Gulayan sa Kampo” program reflects the organization’s commitment not only to maintaining peace and order but also to promoting environmental awareness, food sustainability, and public service.

He likewise commended the personnel for their dedication and teamwork in sustaining the garden, emphasizing that unity, patience, and perseverance contribute to productive and meaningful accomplishments.

(Leyte Samar Daily Express)

TACLOBAN CITY — Thousands of delivery riders across Eastern Visayas received government cash assistance on Tuesday, May 27, to help ease the financial burden caused by rising fuel prices and increasing transportation costs.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Office 8 distributed P5,000 in cash relief assistance to 2,855 delivery riders throughout the region as part of the government’s response to the continuing effects of high oil prices under the country’s ongoing energy emergency measures.

According to DSWD-8, the simultaneous payout activities were conducted in different provinces and cities in Eastern Visayas to ensure that beneficiaries directly received the financial support.

Among the recipients, 1,124 delivery riders received assistance in Tacloban City; 402 in Ormoc City, Leyte; 88 in Biliran; 202 in Southern Leyte; 536 in Samar; 346 in Eastern Samar; and 157 in Northern Samar.

The cash aid aims to provide immediate relief to delivery riders whose daily operations have been heavily affected by fuel price increases, reducing their income while increasing transportation and delivery expenses.

Delivery riders have become an essential part of the transport and service sector, particularly following the rise of online food delivery and courier services in recent years. Many riders rely on motorcycles for their livelihood, making them among the sectors most vulnerable to fuel price hikes.

DSWD-8 said the assistance program forms part of the national government’s continuing efforts to support vulnerable and low-income workers affected by economic challenges and fluctuating fuel prices.

The agency added that the initiative seeks to help beneficiaries sustain their daily needs and continue their operations amid ongoing economic pressures.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)