Unmasking the Black Box Unmasking the Black Box
• Samar board member Beethoven Bermejo Sr. criticizes power distributors for failing to explain high electricity bills, saying they alone have the database to justify costs.
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• Samar board member Beethoven Bermejo Sr. criticizes power distributors for failing to explain high electricity bills, saying they alone have the database to justify costs.
• After seven decades, remediation finally begins at Samar’s ravaged Bagacay Mines, but questions remain if the Taft River Basin’s devastated landscape can still be salvaged.
• Calbayog City was reduced to a mere “witness” in a green energy deal hosting most infrastructure, sparking concerns over local autonomy and the true development costs.
• Mayor Uy warns developers of a 37-turbine wind project in Calbayog City, vowing to halt operations if any local life is endangered during construction, citing safety and equity concerns.
• Matuguinao, Samar is opening its first college extension this August to boost its economy and secure peace, marking its shift from a conflict-affected area to a growth center.
• Insurgent strength on Samar Island has dropped by over half since 2020, from 180 to an estimated 60-70 fighters, according to military officials.
• Matuguinao, Samar is expanding its reintegration program for former rebels, including housing (Saad Nga Balay), cash, and livelihood aid, as 116 have taken their oath of allegiance.
• DAR continues transforming Filipino farmers from marginalized “slaves of the soil” into self-reliant landowners amid rapid agricultural changes.
• Conflict stems from lack of inclusive development. To help rebels return home, local governments must build roads and connectivity, turning fragile hope into lasting peace.
• Silvino Lubos Mayor Leo Jarito said the 5th-class town of over 15,000 residents has seen major changes due to active support for NTF-ELCAC.
The 70-Year Tax on Samar’s Soil: Why We Cannot Let Bagacay’s Toxic Legacy Defeat Science 
The Price of a Spectator Seat: Calbayog’s Sovereignty in the Shadow of Wind Turbines 
Mayor Vows Stoppage of Calbayog Wind Project if a Single Life is Lost 
From Conflict to Campus: Matuguinao to Open First College Extension This August 
Insurgency Weakens in Samar as Remaining Fighters Flee to Remote Mountain Borders 
From Weapons to Welfare: Matuguinao Scales Up Integration Package, ‘Saad Nga Balay’ Housing for Former Rebels 
DAR 2026: From Landless to Landowner—A Legacy of Social Justice 
The Road to Peace: Paving Over the Roots of Conflict in Las Navas 
Silvino Lubos Pushes Growth Amid Peace Program