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CSC Calls on Civil Servants to Join Nationwide Coastal Clean-Up this September

Tacloban City–As part of the 125th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary (PCSA), the Civil Service Commission (CSC) is calling on the more than two million government officials and employees to take part in the National Coastal Clean-Up this September. The clean-up drive, a joint initiative with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), is integral to both agencies’ continued partnership aimed to promote environmental stewardship through community engagement and coastal ecosystem protection.By protecting biodiversity and mitigating flooding, the clean-up helps safeguard local communities. Removing debris from shorelines and waterways improves drainage, while restoring natural buffers like wetlands and mangroves enhances coastal resilience by absorbing floodwaters and reducing storm impact. These efforts also support the planned establishment of local tree sanctuaries nationwide, contributing to long-term ecosystem restoration and community sustainability. Specific schedules and venues will be coordinated and announced by CSC Regional Offices in partnership with the DENR. Interested individuals may also contact their respective CSC Regional Offices for further details.This…

Building Trust: Ensuring Transparency in Eastern Visayas Flood Control Initiatives

by Roel Montes TACLOBAN CITY — At least PHP53.36 billion in funds have been allocated since 2023 for the implementation of 700 flood control projects in the Eastern Visayas region, which will be subject to monitoring as directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Data obtained by the Philippine News Agency (PNA) from the Regional Development Council (RDC) showed that of the total projects, 435 have been completed, 216 are ongoing, and 49 have not yet started as of June 2025. These projects are being implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office and its 14 district engineering offices across six provinces. Based on the report presented by DPWH during the 2nd quarter RDC-Infrastructure and Utilities Development Committee meeting, some PHP13.35 billion was set aside in 2023 for 232 flood mitigation projects. Only five are ongoing, while the rest have been completed. In 2024, the region got a PHP26.57 billion outlay to build 286 flood control…

Oxfam Pilipinas, PKKK launch Care Connect in Biliran

Naval Biliran–The Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan (PKKK), together with the Government of Canada, Oxfam Canada, and local organizations, launched the Care Connect project in Biliran on July 24, 2025, emphasizing the need to recognize care work as real work and institutionalize care programs and policies at the local level. The project seeks to promote the recognition, redistribution, and reduction of unpaid care work in the country. Care work refers to activities that support the well-being of others—such as childcare, eldercare, and household tasks—often performed by women and girls and are essential to society and the economy. Jeanette Kindipan-Dulawan, Oxfam Pilipinas Gender Justice Portfolio Manager, emphasized the collective vision of the project. “Ang care work ay hindi lang obligasyon ng babae—ito ay responsibilidad nating lahat. Sa pagtutulungan, mas makakabuo tayo ng lipunang may malasakit at pagkakapantay-pantay.” (Translation: “Care work is not just a woman’s obligation—it is everyone’s responsibility. By working together, we can better build a caring and equal…

Libanan elected leader of 30-member House minority bloc

Tacloban City- 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan has been elected as Minority Leader of the House of Representatives in the 20th Congress. Libanan received the unanimous support of 29 other minority members during a caucus held on Monday, officially securing the leadership of the 30-strong bloc. Libanan also served as House Minority Leader in the 19th Congress. The House members who voted for Libanan as Minority Leader are: · Edgar Erice (Caloocan, 2nd District) · Presley De Jesus (PHILRECA) · Sergio Dagooc (APEC) · Jonathan Clement Abalos II (4Ps) · Stephen James Tan (Samar, 1st District) · Leila De Lima (Mamayang Liberal) · Percival Cendaña (Akbayan) · Antonio Tinio (ACT Teachers) · Jesus Suntay (Quezon City, 4th District) · Christopher “Sheen” Gonzales (Eastern Samar, Lone District) · Jose Manuel Diokno (Akbayan) · Renee Louise Co (Kabataan) · Roberto Gerard Nazal Jr. (Bagong Henerasyon) · Jernie Jett Nisay (Pusong Pinoy) · Niko Raul Daza (Northern Samar, 1st District) · Allan Ty (LPGMA) · Cielo Krisel Lagman-Luistro (Albay, 1st District) · Terry Ridon (Bicol Saro) · Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao (Dinagat Islands,…

4ps Congressman observes that suspension of higher biodiesel blend a disservice to 25 million Filipinos dependent on coconut industry

evmwb Tacloban City– Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan has expressed deep concern over the Department of Energy’s (DOE) decision to suspend the implementation of higher biodiesel blend mandates, calling the move “a disservice to 25 million Filipinos directly and indirectly dependent on the coconut industry for their livelihoods.” “The DOE’s decision to delay the shift to four percent (B4) and five percent (B5) biodiesel blends deals a serious blow to the millions of Filipino families whose survival hinges on coconut farming,” Libanan said. “At a time when we should be expanding opportunities for rural income and supporting domestic agriculture, this suspension pulls the rug out from under our coconut farmers,” Libanan added. He pointed out that the higher biodiesel blend would have spurred increased demand for copra – the dried meat of coconut from which biodiesel feedstock is derived – and in turn driven farmgate prices up. “More copra demand means higher copra prices, and that translates directly to food on…

POPULATION IN EASTERN VISAYAS REACHES to 4.63 MILLION IN 2024

Tacloban City–The regional Office 8 of the Philippine Statistics Authority ( PSA) revealed as of July 1, 2024, the total population of Eastern Visayas stood at 4,625,929. This count is based on the 2024 Census of Population (2024 POPCEN) released officially through Proclamation No. 973 dated 11 July 2025. The population of the region accounted for about 4.1 percent of the country’s 112,729,484 total population. Philippine Statistics Authority Compared with the 2020 Census of Population and Housing (2020 CPH), the regional population in 2024 increased by about 78,779 from 4.55 million in 2020. The region’s annual population growth rate (PGR) from 2020 to 2024 slowed down to 0.41 percent, translating to an average of about 4 additional persons for every 1,000 population per year. This growth rate is lower than the 0.50 percent recorded between 2015 and 2020. Among the six provinces in Eastern Visayas, Leyte (excluding Tacloban City) registered the largest population in 2024 with 1.82 million, accounting for …

Romualdez: Nearly 4 in 10 students still drop out, time to strengthen free college law

Tacloban City–Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Wednesday sounded the alarm over soaring dropout rates in public colleges and universities, urging urgent action to strengthen the Free Higher Education Law and prevent millions of students from falling through the cracks of the country’s most ambitious education reform. “Free tuition was a landmark achievement, but the work is far from over. Nearly four out of 10 students in state universities and colleges are still dropping out. In some regions, the situation is even more alarming,” Rep. Romualdez lamented. Citing data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), Rep. Romualdez said the national dropout rate in school year 2023 to 2024 reached 39 percent. In the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), it was as high as 93.4 percent. Central Visayas reported 60.7 percent, Zamboanga Peninsula 59.5 percent, Cordillera 54.9 percent, Metro Manila 52.4 percent, Soccsksargen 51.2 percent, and Western Visayas 50.2 percent. “These are not just statistics. They are…

Kapatid raises alleged abuseson political prisoners at TCJ

by Miriam G. Desacada Tacloban City–Kapatid, a support organization of families and friends of political prisoners in the Philippines, has raised its concern over the alleged maltreatment of controversial political prisoners inside the Tacloban City Jail (TCJ). Fides Lim, Kapatid spokesperson, said the group cited “mounting reports of neglect, discrimination, and abuses” done against detained activists Frenchie Mae Cumpio, Marielle Domequil, and three others—tagged as the Tacloban 5. Kapatid appealed to Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) chief, General Ruel Rivera, to open a dialogue with families of the prisoners and advocacy groups about the alleged “pattern of ongoing harassment and neglect” at TCJ. The Tacloban 5, have been incarcerated since February 2020 on charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives and terrorism financing, which they and their supporters denied and deemed fabricated. The case of Cumpio, a journalist known for her reporting on alleged human rights abuses, has drawn international attention among press freedom advocates and human…

HB seeks Creation of centralized patient records in every town and city to improve healthcare delivery

Tacloban City– House Bill No. 1907 has recently filed by Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan seeking to mandate the creation of a Centralized Patient Record System (CPRS) in all municipalities and cities across the country to improve the continuity, quality, and efficiency of healthcare delivery. The proposed Local Health Record System Act of 2025, every patient seen in barangay health centers, rural health units (RHUs), and other local primary care facilities would have a comprehensive, accessible, and secure medical record. “In many underserved communities, a patient’s medical history often vanishes with each consultation,” Libanan said. “Our health workers do their best, but without a reliable record-keeping system, they’re often forced to work blindly.” “A centralized record system will not only prevent misdiagnosis and medical duplication—it will also save lives by giving health professionals the full picture of a patient’s condition,” Libanan emphasized. Libanan a lawyer by profession, also holds a degree in medical technology. The said bill requires local…

𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁-𝗚𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝟭𝟳𝟵𝟬 𝗯𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗽. 𝗘𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝗻𝗴𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗮𝗻

Tacloban City–Northern Samar Second District Representative Congressman Edwin C. Ongchuan has filed House Bill No. 1790 on July 10, 2025. This proposed measure aims to modernize agriculture and strengthen the role of the rural youth in shaping a resilient and future-ready farming sector. Titled “An Act Promoting Rural Agricultural Technology Access and Innovation through a National Support Program for Farmers and Youth, and Appropriating Funds Therefor,” the bill seeks to establish a national initiative that integrates technology, training, and entrepreneurship. The bill responds to long-standing challenges in the agricultural sector, including low productivity, limited access to appropriate technologies, and the growing disinterest of young people in farming. It introduces a national support program to be administered by the Department of Agriculture that will promote access to modern agricultural tools, enhance digital connectivity in rural areas, and support innovation led by farmers and youth. A key feature of the bill is the creation of the Rural Agricultural Technology Access and Innovation…

CSC Calls on Civil Servants to Join Nationwide Coastal Clean-Up this September

Building Trust: Ensuring Transparency in Eastern Visayas Flood Control Initiatives

Oxfam Pilipinas, PKKK launch Care Connect in Biliran

Libanan elected leader of 30-member House minority bloc

4ps Congressman observes that suspension of higher biodiesel blend a disservice to 25 million Filipinos dependent on coconut industry

POPULATION IN EASTERN VISAYAS REACHES to 4.63 MILLION IN 2024

Romualdez: Nearly 4 in 10 students still drop out, time to strengthen free college law

Kapatid raises alleged abuseson political prisoners at TCJ

HB seeks Creation of centralized patient records in every town and city to improve healthcare delivery

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