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𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟰𝗣𝘀: 𝗔 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝟲𝟬𝟰

Tacloban City–Over the years, discussions around the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) have highlighted the need to complement financial assistance with pathways to long-term self-sufficiency. House Bill No. 604, recently filed by Representative Edwin C. Ongchuan on June 30, 2025, responds to this call through a timely and transformative proposal that places livelihood and skills development at the core of social protection. At the heart of this proposed amendment to Republic Act No. 11310 is the belief that government support must not end with cash. It must evolve into capability. Under this measure, 4Ps beneficiaries will be required to complete at least two accredited livelihood or skills training programs. This new direction according to Rep.Ongchuan redefines the program into one that empowers families to become active contributors to the economy, not just recipients of assistance. This shift is particularly relevant in provinces like Northern Samar, where agriculture and aquaculture offer rich yet underutilized opportunities for income and food security. In…

Romualdez pushes Bank Secrecy Law reform to fight corruption and financial crimes

Tacloban City–REELECTED Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez has filed a bold and long-overdue proposal to modernize the country’s Bank Secrecy Law—empowering regulators to better combat corruption, fraud, and other financial crimes that continue to undermine public trust. House Bill (HB) No. 7, which Rep. Romualdez, filed at the opening of the 20th Congress, seeks to amend Republic Act (RA) No. 1405 to allow the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to examine bank deposits—including foreign currency accounts—under strict and limited conditions where there is reasonable suspicion of unlawful activity. “We want to send a clear message: the Philippines should no longer be a safe haven for dirty money,” Rep. Romualdez said. “If we want honest governance and a stronger financial system, we must update our laws and give our regulators the tools they need to protect the people’s money.” Rep. Romualdez, who served as Speaker in the 19th Congress, is joined by Tingog Party-list Reps. Andrew Julian Romualdez…

PROTEST VS LUCY’s WIN Comelec hints ballot recount,re-tabulation of returns order

by Miriam G. Desacada Tacloban City–The Comelec 2nd division stated that, if re-elected Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez could not prove that she did not receive any summons or election protests filed against her by her opponent Violeta Codilla, the petition for a recount of ballots and re-tabulation of returns will be granted. On May 26 the Comelec clerk of court issued a summons with copy of Codilla’s election protest, informing Mayor Lucy that an election protest was filed against her and that, she is required to file a verified answer within five days from the date she received the summon. Upon checking with the LBC Track and Trace website by the Comelec division clerk, the summon was delivered on May 30 and received by a certain Jess Bughaw, an office staff of Mayor Lucy. If the prescribed period of five days from receipt of the documents is to be followed then Mayor Lucy could have submitted to the Comelec her verified…

PROTEST VS LUCY’s WIN Comelec hints ballot recount,re-tabulation of returns order

Fast and reliable internet access sought

by Miriam G.Desacada Palo Leyte — Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez yesterday vowed to help improve internet access nationwide. Romualdez said he will ensure that the 2026 national budget provides adequate support for digital infrastructure projects. These projects include the middle-mile network, GovNet and free public internet access program of the Department of Information and Communications Technology. “Connectivity should not depend on where you live. Every barangay, from the center of the city to the farthest island, deserves access to reliable internet,” he said. Launching the National Fiber Backbone project’s phases two and three in Palo, Leyte is a major step toward giving households access to fast and reliable internet, he said. The project aims to connect about 1,000 government offices and 20 provinces, benefiting 17 million Filipinos, including 1.39 million unique users. Romualdez joined President Marcos and others at the launch event at The Tropics at MacArthur Park Hotel in Palo. During thd grand launching President Marcos also launched the…

Coalition Endorsing Libanan for Minority Leader

By Miriam G. Desacada Tacloban City–The new House minority bloc includes (from left to right) Representatives Terry Ridon (Bicol Saro), Antonio Tinio (ACT Teachers), Jan Rurik Padiernos (Galing sa Puso), Jonathan Clement Abalos II (4Ps), Percival Cendaña (Akbayan), Leila De Lima (Mamayang Liberal), Dadah Kiram Ismula (Akbayan), Jose Manuel Diokno (Akbayan), Roberto Nazal Jr. (Bagong Henerasyon), Marcelino Libanan (4Ps), Edgar Erice (2nd District, Caloocan City), Elijah San Fernando (Kamanggagawa), Jernie Jett Nisay (Pusong Pinoy), Sheen Gonzales (Lone District, Eastern Samar), Niko Raul Daza (1st District, Northern Samar), and Allan Ty (LPGMA), among others. A broad coalition of House members – spearheaded by Akbayan, the top-performing party-list in the recent elections, and the Liberal Party – has formally endorsed 4Ps Rep. Marcelino ‘Nonoy’ Libanan for minority leader of the 20th Congress, which will convene its first regular session on July 28. In a joint manifesto of support, the lawmakers cited Libanan’s “unwavering integrity, proven legislative competence, and steadfast commitment to public…

IN MAHAPLAG, LEYTE70-year-old retiree enters high school

by Ahlette Reyes MAHAPLAG, LEYTE – Instead of enjoying his retirement years, 70-year-old Jose Pentin Rallos of Barangay Union in Mahaplag, Leyte, opted to enrol as a Grade 7 student, considered in Philippine education system, the first year in junior high school. Known in the barangay as “Tatay Jose,” the senior citizen of a town (which name is believed to have been culled from a combo of two local terms that mean failure and success) is openly determined to finish an education that was deprived of him about six decades ago due to poverty. Tatay Jose, born on 9th of March 1955, unintentionally became a symbol of lifelong learning, as his pursuit of a long-held dream effectively served as inspiration to the thousands of students at the Mahaplag National High School (MNHS) main campus, a public school. Tatay Jose, in an engagement with the media, revealed that it was poverty that had put his education on hold many years ago.…

14 doctors sent to LGUs in region,under DOH-8’s DTTB program

by Miriam G. Desacada Palo, Leyte–The Department of Health-Region 8 (DOH-8) announced its deployment of 14 new physicians to some local government units in the region, under its Doctors to the Barrios (DTTBs) program designed to address the healthcare needs of underserved and rural communities across the country. Jelyn Malibago, information officer of DOH-8, told the media that the 14 DTTBs will be sent to various LGUs in the region, which needed the ideal doctor-to patient ratio of one doctor per 20,000 population. Areas of deployment for this batch of DTTBs are the towns of Liloan and Anahawan in Southern Leyte; Palompon, Palo, Calubian, Mahaplag, Burauen, Bato, and Babatngon in Leyte; Naval in Biliran; Motiong and Matuguinao in Samar; Arteche in Eastern Samar; and Silvino Lobos in Northern Samar. These DTTBs, who are medical scholars of the government, will assist in delivering healthcare services, such as regular check-ups, vaccinations, health education, and emergency care to the people of a community…

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐋𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐏𝐎 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐆𝐔𝐬, 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

In a move to bolster local economic growth and attract more strategic investments, Northern Samar 2nd District Representative Edwin C. Ongchuan has introduced a bill aimed at institutionalizing the position of Local Economic Development and Investment Promotions Officer (LEDIPO) across all local government units (LGUs) in the Philippines. The proposed legislation, tagged as House Bill 602, seeks to amend the Republic Act No. 7160, commonly known as the “Local Government Code of 1991,” to ensure the permanent placement of LEDIPOs in provincial, city, and first- and second-class municipal governments. For municipalities of the third to sixth class, the appointment of LEDIPOs will remain optional. This strategic position was initially encouraged in a 2010 memorandum from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which aimed to cultivate a more business-friendly environment to draw local and foreign investors. Successive directives, including the designation of PPP Sub-Committees chaired by LEDIPOs, aimed to align local investment strategies with national economic goals. The…

The Warriors’ priority this NBA offseason is in place.

The Warriors’ priority this NBA offseason is in place. Golden State’s “high priority” in the opening hours of free agency is signing a stretch center, with veteran Al Horford surging as a “preferred target,” The Athletic’s Anthony Slater reported Monday, citing league sources. While adding a stretch center is Golden State’s priority, Jonathan Kuminga’s restricted free agency is the biggest question the Warriors have to answer this offseason, and as Slater noted, adding a free agent could complicate general manager Mike Dunleavy’s workflow. “If the Warriors use the taxpayer midlevel exception (projected at around $5.7 million) on Horford or another free agent, they’ll be hard-capped at the second apron, currently projected at $207.8 million,” Slater wrote. “The Warriors currently have nine players under contract at $170.5 million. Kuminga’s qualifying offer, extended over the weekend by the Warriors, is $7.9 million, but his cap hold is $22.9 million, further clogging the Warriors’ books if his situation drags deeper into July.” In addition to Slater, NBA insider Marc Stein reported…

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