Rappler's latest stories on Leyte
People vs Pandemic: How these mayors’ priorities protected their communities
Rappler features local governments that have been ahead in responding to the coronavirus pandemic
Eastern Visayas reports first 3 coronavirus deaths in region
Eastern Visayas regional health department says all deaths were returning residents and had underlying conditions
Ormoc, Cebu province among emerging coronavirus hotspots, says DOH
All emerging coronavirus hotspots are provinces in the Visayas. Eastern Visayas health officials fear health systems may be overwhelmed if the trend continues.
Eastern Visayas coronavirus cases spike to over 300
The region confirms 69 new cases – the highest number of fresh cases recorded in Eastern Visayas in a single day
22 Leyte health workers test positive for coronavirus
From only two coronavirus cases in April, Leyte province now has 195 cases
Disorganized repatriation program puts E. Visayas rural healthcare at risk
(UPDATED) The 'Balik Probinsya' and 'Hatid Probinsya' programs are sending coronavirus-positive patients to their home provinces, where healthcare systems are fragile
4 more returning residents test positive for coronavirus in Eastern Visayas
An overseas Filipino worker is Tacloban City's first confirmed coronavirus case
Another returning resident tests positive for coronavirus in Leyte
An OFW from Hilongos town in Leyte province tests positive for the virus. The patient is the latest of 3 returning residents confirmed with the virus in the Eastern Visayas
FALSE: Richard Gomez won’t accept returnees to Ormoc City
The President says in a late night address that Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez would not accept returning residents in Ormoc City. Gomez never said this.
1st coronavirus cases in 2 Leyte LGUs came from Balik Probinsya program
Baybay City and Tanuan town in Leyte each record their first coronavirus case, both returning residents under the national government's Balik Probinsya program
Año: Balik Probinsya arrivals confusion in Leyte an 'isolated incident'
The interior secretary says Ormoc Mayor Richard Gomez may have received some wrong information – the arrivals were stranded people, not OFWs – although it's true they have not been tested for COVID-19
Ormoc Mayor Richard Gomez slams government's Balik Probinsya program
In a Facebook post, Gomez calls out national government agencies' lack of coordination with local government units in implementing the program
Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center starts RT-PCR testing
DOH Regional Director Minerva Molon says that the testing center has an initial maximum testing capability of up to 90 specimens a day
#PumasaNa: Barkada celebrates victory after passing Bar on 2nd try
Six graduates of the Dr Vicente Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation in Tacloban City drew strength from one another as they prepared for their second Bar exam
COA orders Leyte town to stop excessive hiring of contractual workers
The Commission on Audit says the Carigara municipal government in Leyte spent P8.79 million 'more than the amount appropriated for wages' of contractual and job order personnel
Cebu City, Southern Leyte lift ban on Mindanao pork products
Mindanao was previously hit by the African swine fever, prompting local governments in the Visayas to ban hogs and pork products from the neighboring island
COA flags irregularities in Leyte town's hiring of job order employees
The Commission on Audit says the local government of Hilongos hired job order employees 'without determining its manpower needs'
Leyte province reports first confirmed coronavirus case
The female patient from Leyte is the 5th confirmed case in Eastern Visayas
COA flags Leyte town for hiring too many job order employees
The Commission on Audit says the municipal government of Julita, Leyte, 'must be circumspect in the hiring of job order personnel'
Tacloban City coronavirus testing center pushed
Setting up a testing hub in Leyte can help address the turnaround time of COVID-19 results, local health and science officials say
Leyte placed under community quarantine
Eastern Visayas has no confirmed novel coronavirus cases while 43 patients are under investigation
Sandiganbayan convicts Leyte mayor of graft over illegal procurement of vehicles
Albuera, Leyte Mayor Sixto de la Victoria is sentenced to 6 years imprisonment
Magnitude 5.5 earthquake hits Leyte
The jolt was felt all the way in Cebu City and towns across the northern end of the island
Altermidya correspondent, 4 human rights leaders arrested in Tacloban
(UPDATED) Various media and school organizations call for their immediate release, saying the arrests are meant to silence media and human rights defenders
Areas under state of calamity due to Typhoon Ursula
(3rd UPDATE) The provinces of Eastern Samar, Biliran, Leyte, and Aklan as well as the city of Tacloban, are under a state of calamity due to the trail of destruction left by Typhoon Ursula
IN PHOTOS: Buildings, homes destroyed as Typhoon Ursula batters parts of Visayas
Typhoon Ursula leaves a trail of destruction in parts of Visayas, as it destroyed buildings and flooded areas in the regions
IN PHOTOS: Typhoon Ursula brings Christmas Day floods to Visayas provinces
Typhoon Ursula strikes several provinces in Visayas, resulting in severe flooding after heavy rains
COA disallows P6 million in benefits to Southern Leyte State University workers
The Commission on Audit affirms a notice of disallowance of P6.22 million in benefits to officials and employees of Southern Leyte State University as the source of funding violates some laws and regulations for such cash releases
LOOK: How local government units prepare for Typhoon Tisoy
(UPDATED) Different local government units prepare for Typhoon Tisoy (Kammuri) by evacuating residents ahead of its landfall
FALSE: Leyte-Surigao, Samar-Sorsogon bridges to 'start construction' in 2020
These proposed bridges are no longer pushing through, with the Duterte administration shelving the 'challenging' projects
[ANALYSIS] 75 years after MacArthur's return, WW2 combatants face common threat
Why were the US and Japan forces in the Philippines for joint 'warrior' exercises? Because China desires regional and global domination, and the Philippines is standing in its way.
Survivors say prayers at Yolanda mass grave in Tacloban
‘I wish Mama were here to tell me that everything’s going to be okay,’ says Nathalia, who was 4 years old when her mother and 3 sisters died during Super Typhoon Yolanda
Ormoc mayor Richard Gomez uses mapping and data to preserve local culture
The Ormoc City government implements cultural mapping techniques to preserve the city's heritage and promote the development of its local arts and culture
Rappler Talk: 100 days into 2nd term, Richard Gomez means business in Ormoc City
Rappler talks to Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez on what he has done so far, and his plans as chief executive of the Eastern Visayan City
Bleak Christmas for workers displaced by fire in Robinsons Place Tacloban
Almost half of the stalls inside the mall were gutted by the 15-hour blaze
Comelec suspends special elections in South Cotabato, Southern Leyte
This follows a Supreme Court decision directing the poll body to proclaim Shirlyn Bañas Nograles as the duly-elected representative of the 1st district of South Cotabato, including General Santos City
Duterte on 75th anniversary of Leyte landing: Filipinos still at war vs illegal drugs
President Rodrigo Duterte connects the events of the liberation of the Philippines from the Japanese occupation to the need to be free from social ills like illegal drugs
Japan 75 years after Leyte landing: ‘Avoid war, value peace’
Japan attends the 75th anniversary of the event that led to the end of their occupation of the Philippines during World War II
Leyte mayor slammed for mowing trees, plants in road clearing operations
A directive by the Department of the Interior and Local Government says that local government units should not destroy plants and structures along sidewalks, only along roads
Manila court orders arrest of Joma Sison, Jalandoni over Leyte mass grave
(UPDATED) Satur Ocampo, a co-accused, is excluded in the warrant because of an earlier bail grant by the Supreme Court
IN PHOTOS: Ormoc City kicks off 3rd nationwide earthquake drill for 2019
The 3rd quarter NSED in Ormoc City simulates the impact of a magnitude 7.2 earthquake
Comelec to hold elections in Southern Leyte, South Cotabato on October 26
The Commission on Elections says polls in the areas were suspended to a later date due to 'operational and logistical constraints' as the new districts were created only months before the May 13 polls
At least 19 dead from dengue in Eastern Visayas
From January 1 to July 6, 2019, the Department of Health in Region VIII has recorded 4,550 dengue cases
Ex-Leyte congressman files complaint vs poll winner over residency
(UPDATED) Defeated Leyte 2nd district representative Henry Ong claims the winning candidate, Lolita Javier, committed falsification of public document when she claimed residency in Jaro town
Richard Gomez to focus on infrastructure dev't, disaster management during 2nd term
Among the Ormoc City mayor's priorities are solving traffic congestion, increasing the city's resiliency to calamities, and banning single use plastics by 2021
String of disqualification cases filed vs Torres-Gomez, allies in Leyte
Richard Gomez and Lucy Torres are no strangers to petitions to disqualify them
More poultry farms cause fly infestation in Ormoc City
‘We need your cooperation…. You invested a lot. It will be most painful if your business will be closed,’ Mayor Richard Gomez reportedly tells poultry owners
Comelec junks bid to disqualify another Torres in Leyte
The Comelec second division dismisses a petition to disqualify the candidacy for the Leyte provincial board of Carmen Jean Torres Rama, sister of Representative Lucy Torres Gomez
Barangays in Ormoc City hit by fly infestation
(UPDATED) Residents blame the swarms of flies to the outbreak diarrhea in their areas
Dynasty members, old names capture new districts in 2019
Meanwhile, in two areas where there will be new districts after 2019, political dynasties and prominent politicians grab important local posts
