Philippine News

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Jan. 31 (PIA) -- Jobseekers in Ilocos Region will be given more opportunities to land an employment as job fairs schedule for the first quarter of 2019 has been released.On Thursday, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Region 1 announced the list of job fairs particularly targeting the provinces of Pangasinan and Ilocos Sur.According to Nathaniel Lacambra, DOLE-1 regional director, more job fairs will be conducted in line with the Department’s thrust of strengthening its job search assistance services.“Jobs will be plenty at the job fairs that will be conducted throughout the region for this year,” said Lacambra.
Initially, there are eight job fairs for the first quarter which are as follows:·            Feb.  1 – Poblacion Town Plaza, Bani, Pangasinan                             Job Fair on Wheels, Bani, Pangasinan·             Feb.  8 – Dasol, Pangasinan                               STI College Vigan, Pantay Daya, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur·             …

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Enero 31 (PIA)---Nakatanggap ng higit pa sa isang parangal ang Public Employment Service Office (PESO) ng Sarangani Province sa mahusay na performance nito sa taong 2018. Kabilang sa mga parangal na natanggap nito ay ang Highest Placement Rate for Job Search Assistance, pagiging aktibong PESO sa pagpapatupad ng limang programs and services ng Dept. of Labor and Employment (DOLE) at pagtalima sa reportorial requirements mula Enero hanggang Disyembre 2018. Narito ang limang programa ng  DOLE na ipinatupad ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Sarangani: (1) referral of placement for local and overseas agencies and walk-in seekers; (2) summer job program; (3) speaking engagements on career-coaching and anti-illegal recruitment campaigns cum human trafficking upang mapagtibay ang interbensyong pang-secondarya; (4) livelihood programs 2018 na may pondong P4.1 million mula sa DOLE, na kasalukuyang nasa procurement process, at ang mga benepisaryo ay mga marginalized sectors ng Saran…

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Ene 31 (PIA)--Mahigit P200 milyon ang nalikom na revenue kamakailan ng pamahalaang panlungsod sa taunang One Stop Shop nito na ginanap mismo sa loob ng Investment Center ng lokal na pamahalaan.Malaking tulong sa pamahalaan ng Gensan, ayon kay Geraldine Zamora, hepe ng Business Permits and Licensing Division ang kanilang adbokasiyang tinaguriang FAST o Friendly, Accessible, Simple, Timely sa pag-proseso ng mga lisensya at business permits sa lungsod gamit ang bagong online system eTRACS.Datapuwa’t aminado itong may mga konting aberya sa bagong sistema, naitawid pa rin nila ng maayos, aniya, ang pangakong mabilis na pagseserbisyong publiko.“Ang target po natin kasi within one day, na meet namin yun, meaning bayad ka ngayong umaga, hindi ka na babalik bukas kasi within the day ma-release yung permit mo,” ani Zamora.Nagsimula ang One Stop Shop noong Enero 3 hanggang Enero 20.Paliwanag ni Zamora, Nasa 7,000 renewals at pagpaparehistro ng bagong business permits ang ina…

LAOAG CITY – More than three million tourists visited Ilocos Norte in 2018, with Chinese nationals dominating foreign tourist arrivals in this northern gateway of Luzon, the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office (INTO) reported on Thursday.Ilocos Norte’s tourism operations officer, Xavier Ruiz, said other foreign visitors who visited the province’s major tourism attractions last year included Americans, Europeans and Koreans.“This is the sweet fruit of labor and the solidarity of all tourism stakeholders,” Ruiz said.The latest record of the INTO shows the UNESCO-world heritage site of Saint Augustine Church in Paoay, Ilocos topped the most-visited place with 509,449 visitors, followed by the so-called Malacañang of the North with 387,118 visitors; Kapurpurawan Rock Formation in Burgos with 286,998 visitors; and the Paoay and Culilli Point Sand Dunes with 276,483 and 229,677 visitors, respectively.In an effort to attract more tourists to the province, Ruiz bared plans to intensify the campaign o…

MANILA -- Nine Philippine airports received "star ratings" from the Official Aviation Guide (OAG), an air travel intelligence company based in the United Kingdom, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) announced Thursday.The results of the 2017-2018 OAG On-Time Performance (OTP) star ratings for airlines and airports were announced this month, according to CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio.Apolonio told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that this is the second time that Philippine airports have received star ratings from the OAG. The first was in 2017.For this year, eight Philippine airports received a 1-star rating: Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Mactan-Cebu International Airport, and the provincial airports in Iloilo, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro City, Davao, Tacloban and Puerto Princesa. Clark International Airport, on the other hand, received 2-star rating.Apolonio said the OTP rating does not rely on whether the flights are on-time or not.The two cri…

MANILA — The Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, popularly known as Quiapo Church, has tightened its security in the wake of the twin blasts that hit a church in Jolo, Sulu.“At present, we have more K-9 units, they are patrolling around the Church premises. We also added more security personnel. They have been ordered not only to double but also to triple check the area,” Quiapo Church parochial vicar Rev. Fr. Douglas Badong said in an interview over Radio Veritas Thursday.The prelate added that their personnel are thoroughly checking the basilica's premises and its vicinity.“Every now and then we check the benches and also those who are sleeping outside the Church, we are also checking them,” he said.Badong also appealed to the faithful and devotees of the Black Nazarene to exercise vigilance.“When we go to the Basilica, we should not only look after ourselves but also to other people inside the Church. We should report suspicious looking persons and we should also help in main…

MANILA -- No appetite and sluggish -- this is how Lilibeth Mosende described her four-year-old niece, Hazel, a year ago when she had schistosomiasis.Schistosomiasis is an acute and chronic disease caused by parasitic worms."Naalagaan ko siya noon sa probinsiya, lagi masakit ang tiyan niya at lagi na lang nakadapa sa paghiga sa sobrang sakit tapos nagkaroon ng lagnat ng dalawang araw. Ang sabi sa center, doon kami sa Barangay Bahay, San Policarpio, Eastern Samar, kapag ang bata ganoon dapat mapurga (I took care of her in the province, she always has stomach ache and she lies on her stomach all the time because it's very painful)," Mosende told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Mosende's province, Eastern Samar, is one of the 28 provinces in the country where schistosomiasis is endemic.The other provinces include Cagayan, Oriental Mindoro, Sorsogon, Negros Occidental, Leyte, Western Samar, Northern Samar, Bohol, Agusan d…

ILOILO CITY -- Security measures at the Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo have been tightened to ensure the safety and security of its inbound and outbound passengers as part of “proactive measures against the spillover of the terror attack in Jolo”.Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Iloilo terminal supervisor Art Parreño, in a phone interview Thursday, said they decided to increase the number of guards at the entrance gate in Sta. Barbara and main gate towards the airport.There will be visual check and under chassis inspection to be conducted at the two gates.“The inspection area at the ground floor will be a little bit stricter and at the final check all unauthorized will be confiscated. This is our way of target-hardening for any act of terrorism if there is,” he added.Moreover, the closed-circuit television (CCTV) operators “will be reinforced to watch all over the airport vicinity”.For the benefit of the airport manager, the reporting system of secu…

DAGUPAN CITY, Jan. 31 (PIA) --  The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Pangasinan told students in the province to pursue science and technology-related courses in their college education to easily land a job and avail of the privileges of DOST scholarship programs.Jennifer Fernandez, science research specialist of DOST-Pangasinan Satellite Office in Urdaneta City, urged high school students who are graduating this academic year to choose science courses because it will provide them more job opportunities.“Maraming opportunities kapag science related ang course mo, sinasabi nga natin sa DOST na meron nang brain-drain when it comes to science and technology kaya nga sinusulong natin itong mga DOST scholarship,”Fernandez said during the “Pantongtongan Tayo” radio program of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) on Tuesday.Fernandez said to encourage more students to take up science-related courses, the DOST, through the Science Education Institute (SEI), has increased its …

MANILA -- Establishments along Manila Bay must comply with environmental laws, Malacañang reminded Thursday amid the bay’s ongoing cleanup.“Those who are not compliant with regulations would have to toe the line,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.Earlier, the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) issued cease and desist orders against three establishments for discharging wastewater directly to the Manila Bay.Following concerns raised by Makabayan lawmakers that informal settlers who will be displaced by the cleanup were not consulted, Panelo also assured that their welfare will be taken into consideration.“The government will always look at the welfare of everybody affected there,” he said.Panelo also urged Makabayan lawmakers who want the cleanup postponed until a rehab plan is published to first wait for the results of the Manila Bay rehabilitation.“Ganun din naman sila doon sa Boracay di ba? O e natapos na ang Boracay okay naman sa kanila (They…

MANILA -- A ranking leader at the House of Representatives said Thursday they hope to approve the bill reviving mandatory Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) training for senior high school students on third and final reading by February 6 before Congress goes on recess for the national campaign for the mid-term elections.Deputy Speaker and Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu said the House leadership under Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been pushing for the immediate passage of consolidated House Bill (HB) No. 8961 since it was classified as urgent by President Rodrigo Duterte.“We hope to pass the measure next week before we go on break,” Abu said in a text message to reporters.“The approval of the substitute bill was prioritized as the mandatory ROTC bill was classified as a priority bill of President Duterte,” he added.The urgency of passing the bill was apparent Wednesday when plenary deliberations on HB 9861 started just hours after the proposed measure was approved by the House Com…

DAGUPAN CITY -- Two individuals have died from acute gastroenteritis in Pangasinan province this January, according to a report from the Provincial Health Office (PHO).In an interview Thursday, provincial health officer Dr. Anna Teresa de Guzman said the two casualties are from the towns of Mangaldan and Binalonan.The PHO reported that gastroenteritis cases in the province rose by 1 percent, with 666 cases in January this year, compared to the same period in 2017 with only 658 cases.Most of those affected were children aged one to four years old.De Guzman said Alaminos City reported the highest number of gastroenteritis cases with 44, followed by Bayambang with 43 cases; San Carlos City with 39; Sta. Barbara with 32; Calasiao with 30; Lingayen with 29; Binmaley with 28; Malasiqui and Manaoag with 26 each; and Mapandan with 24.According to health experts, gastroenteritis, also known as infectious diarrhea, is an intestinal infection caused by consumption of contaminated food or water.“…

BAGUIO CITY -- It's all systems go for the 24th staging of the Baguio Flower Festival or “Panagbenga” opening on Friday."All aspects of the preparation are now ongoing, particularly the security, traffic, and the main event,” Councilor Elmer Datuin, co-chairman of the 2019 organizing committee, said in an interview Wednesday.“Panagbenga will always be Baguio’s grand celebration of life, proud fiesta of the best in our city’s floral wealth, joyfully shared with our visitors and guests for their fullest enjoyment of the best there is in Baguio,” he added.“Panagbenga,” a Kankanaey word meaning “blooming”, was conceptualized in 1995 as a recovery measure after the 1990 earthquake that hit Northern Luzon including Baguio. This year's Panagbenga celebration carries the theme "Blooming Forward.”The activities on opening day are the parade elimination of the elementary drum and lyre competition; the landscape competition and the Baguio blooms exposition.Datuin said tradition…

DAVAO CITY -- A promising 12-year-old volleyball "open spiker" from Davao Oriental succumbed to pneumonia here Wednesday evening, as the games for the Davao Regional Athletic Association (DAVRAA) meet are ongoing.

Hadia Pantalion Eronico, a member of the Davao Oriental elementary volleyball team died hours after being rushed to the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC).

Jenelito Atillo, the spokesperson of the Department of Education in Region 11 (DepEd-11), said the young athlete had stayed in bed and refused to take food since Wednesday morning. She was rushed to the hospital after she coughed up blood, he added.

Her coach, Joezel Mae Duro, said that prior to DAVRAA over the weekend Eronico had been complaining of headache and had been coughing. This prompted her to give the young girl rest and made her participate only in minimal training.

Atillo said the volleyball player was declared dead at around 7:30 p.m. by Dr. Rani Valles, adding she was first diagnosed of mul…

MANILA -- Authorities on Thursday released a facial composite illustration of one of the suspects in the killing of Barangay Bagong Silangan chairwoman Crisell Beltran, who is seeking a congressional seat in Quezon City.Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Director, Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel, said the suspect was described to be in his 40s and has a height of 5’4” to 5’5”.The suspect is believed to be slim with fair complexion, black hair, and is clad in long sleeves, black jacket, and long pants.Esquivel said the illustration was based on eyewitnesses who were interviewed by police investigators.He added that authorities are reviewing other closed-circuit television (CCTV) recordings that may help establish the identities of the suspects.Meanwhile, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) head, Director Guillermo Eleazar, said Beltran's killing can be considered as election-related violence (ERV).“We all know that we are in the election period now and Chairwoman Beltran wa…

MANILA - Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar on Thursday reiterated the need for government communicators to effectively convey the message of the government to the people."Through media, words may stand or collapse, inspire or diffuse the already existing patina of the people's perception," Andanar said in a workshop with government communicators in Malacañang.Andanar attributed the high satisfaction and trust ratings being enjoyed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte to the good work of government communicators."You are doing your jobs right. Bakit alam ng mga sinurvey na maganda yung ginagawa ni Presidente? Malalaman lang naman nila yun (Why do people know the good programs of the President? They will only know that) if you're dishing out the right news," Andanar said."Words can transport us to that level of achievement that the very words of our President have been repeatedly been expressed," he added.Andan…

CHICAGO -- After examining the carbon footprint of what more than 16,000 Americans eat in a day, a study conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan (UM) and Tulane University shows that more climate-friendly diets are also healthier.The researchers ranked diets by the amount of greenhouse gas emissions per 1,000 calories consumed and divided them into five equal groups.Then they rated the nutritional value of foods consumed in each diet using the US Healthy Eating Index, a federal measure of diet quality, and compared the lowest- to the highest-impact groups on this and other measures.Americans in the lowest-carbon footprint group ate a healthier diet, as measured by this index. However, these diets also contained more of some low-emission items that are not healthy, namely added sugars and refined grains. They also had lower amounts of important nutrients, such as iron, calcium, and vitamin D.Overall, diets in the lowest-impact group were healthier, but not on all measure…

ILOILO CITY, Jan. 31 (PIA) - Monique Wilson, the global director of One Billion Rising (OBR), will meet with Gender and Development (GAD) focal persons of various national government agencies, local government units, non-government organizations and academe from Western Visayas.A public forum, initiated by Ugsad - Regional Gender Resource Center - WV, dubbed “Reflections on the Six Years of the 1 Billion Rising Campaign to End Gender-Based Violence,” is set on February 5 at the National Food Authority training room in Iloilo City.According to Mary Barby Badayos-Jover, Ugsad GRC coordinator and director of the GAD program of the University of the Philippines – Visayas, Wilson will share her experience as the coordinator of the campaign.She will talk about how countries, including the Philippines, are faring with regard to the campaign, Badayos-Jover said.The focal persons and representatives will be given an opportunity to interact with Wilson.OBR is the biggest mass action to end viol…

MAASIN CITY, Jan. 31 (PIA)  --  For four straight weeks from Jan. 26 until Feb. 22, elementary and secondary schools, including those with kindergarten and senior high school programs, open their doors to enlist new registrants.The early registration regularly pushed by the Department of Education (DepEd) is designed to gather data on incoming number of kids, pupils, and students projected to enter kindergarten, grade 1, grade 7, and grade 11, respectively, so corresponding resources can be duly planned and allocated.“Aside from those mentioned, school personnel also reach out to the community to look for out-of-school youths and differently-abled persons, so they can enroll in the alternative learning system (ALS), or be mainstreamed back to school.  Transferees from one school to another will also be accommodated,” said Lorlin Malbas, in-charge of planning at the DepEd provincial office.The early registration remains open during weekdays including Saturdays within the 4-week period,…

MANILA -- The Sandiganbayan has junked the motions for inhibition, which were filed by two former executives of the Bureau of Immigration against the three justices handling their cases on the alleged PHP50-million bribery in exchange for the release of Chinese aliens illegally working in a casino in Angeles City in 2016.The Sandiganbayan 6th Division, in its resolution dated Jan. 28, 2019, denied for lack of merit former Deputy Commissioners Michael B. Robles and Al C. Argosino's motion to inhibit and the urgent motion for inhibition, respectively.The former BI officials wanted the court to order the voluntary inhibition of Associate Justices Sarah Jane T. Fernandez, Karl B. Miranda and Zaldy V. Trespeses on the grounds of partiality, bias and unfairness.“The Supreme Court has held that a classmate's appearance before a Judge as counsel for one of the parties per se is not a ground for voluntary inhibition. There should be clear and convincing proof of bias and prejudice,” th…

CEBU CITY -- Amid concerns aired by tourism stakeholders on the effect of the travel advisory released by the United Kingdom, an inter-agency team will visit major tourist destinations in southern Cebu on Sunday, the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) said.OPAV Assistant Secretary Anthony Gerard Gonzales told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in an interview on Thursday that the team will visit the tourism towns of Badian and Oslob.The stakeholders in these towns, he said, are wary that the travel ban would directly affect the tourist arrival count.The warning, posted by the UK government on its official website, advised its citizens “against all travel”, specifically mentioning  “southern Cebu”, as among the places with Mindanao, following the twin explosions at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu last January 27.Gonzales said the visit of the inter-agency team was the decision reached after Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd…

TARLAC CITY, Tarlac -- Four persons died and 45 others were injured when the tourist bus they were riding collided with a cargo truck along the Subic-Clark-Tarlac-Expressway (SCTEx) in Concepcion town, this province on Thursday.Senior Supt. Jesus Rebua, Tarlac police acting provincial director, identified the fatalities as Ricardo Aledia and Isidro Brabante, both of Barangay Palangue; and Lalla Abito and Ruel Castillo, both of Barangay Sapa, all in Naic, Cavite.He said those injured were not immediately identified and were taken to different hospitals including Medical City in Clark, Pampanga; Angeles University Foundation Hospital in Angeles City and Mabalacat District Hospital in Mabalacat City.Initial investigation showed that the victims were on board a tourist bus en route to Baguio City when their vehicle crashed into a cargo truck at around 3:30 a.m.According to the Philippine Red Cross-Tarlac Chapter, the passengers are members of the Liga ng mga Barangay-Sangguniang Kabataan …

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija -- Former Philippine National Police (PNP) and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said he decided to foray into politics for one reason: to help President Rodrigo Duterte accomplish his anti-criminality agenda.Dela Rosa, who spoke before village and multi-sectoral representatives during a drug summit at the Nueva Ecija Police Provincial headquarters here Wednesday, said he is an expert only in the area of law and order and will concentrate on this if he wins a Senate seat.He was welcomed by several local officials, including Palayan City Mayor Adrianne Mae Cuevas and some police officers.Dela Rosa said he could live well off his PHP14-million retirement benefits, which he could invest in the Armed Forces and Police Savings and Loan Association, Inc. (AFPSLAI) but decided to enter politics in order to help President Duterte in his anti-criminality program."Si Presidente ay kailangang suportahan. Sayang yung remaining years niya…

MANILA -- Grab Philippines has launched new features on its mobile app in apparent response to customer, as well as regulators' demands.The initiative is part of the company's Better Everyday campaign to ensure a safer and more convenient transportation, Grab's top management said during the launch of the upgraded mobile app Wednesday night.“True to its mission of bringing consumers closer to what matters to them, Grab rolled out a series of app enhancements that will make rides safer, more seamless and more rewarding,” Grab Philippines president Brian Cu said during the event held in Makati City.The following are the features that will be rolled out by Grab on its app for its riders:- Cancel Anytime, which will allow Grab users to cancel their booking attempts before a driver gets assigned.- Saved Places, which will enable quick selection of frequented places, such as home, work, gym, etc. for personalization of pick-up or drop-off points.- Reward points for passengers wh…

CAVITE CITY, Cavite, Jan. 31 (PIA) – The Provincial Government of Cavite's Ugnayan sa Barangay continues to bring government services to different barangays in the province with the recent distribution of modern tricycles called "bokyo" at Samonte Park here in the city.

Former Governor Jonvic Remulla represented his brother Governor Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla in giving out seventy six (76) bokyos  to several barangays which will be used as patrol vehicles when they do the rounds especially during early morning hours.

The said vehicles were intended to aid the recipient barangays in monitoring their peace and order situation, and to immediately response to emergencies.

"Patuloy ang pagbigay (namin) ng totoong serbisyo sa pamamagitan ng makabuluhang programa para sa lahat,” (we will continue to serve our constituents through worthy programs) Jonvic Remulla said as he emphazied their commitment to serve the public.

Cavite City Mayor Bernardo “Totie” Pared…

BAGUIO CITY -- The organizing committee of the Baguio Flower Festival or “Panagbenga” has prohibited candidates in the mid-term polls from joining the grand parades on March 2 and 3.During a press briefing on Wednesday, organizing committee co-chairman Anthony de Leon said candidates for national and local positions will not be allowed to join these parades, saying "they will be given a place at the grandstand of the Athletic Bowl together with the others.”De Leon said politicians will only be allowed to watch the performances and field demonstrations.The organizing committee also said that only competitors, official entries, and contingents from elementary, high school, college and open category shall be allowed to join the grand street dance parade. Only registered float entries and performing bands are allowed to jointhe grand float parade.The panel also noted that no political personalities may join the grand parades in any form or manner. Only incumbent local officials of th…

CATBALOGAN CITY.  Jan. 31 (PIA)-- In a Technical Working Group (TWG) Meeting recently conducted, Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) together with national government agencies and stakeholders discussed some strategies to address the low selling price of copra in the province.PCA 8 Regional Manager Jeffrey delos Reyes said, “There is a need to address the issue. The farm gate price of copra and the milling price have a difference of P7.00-P9.00 per kilogram. This means that the traders and millers are getting richer yet the farmers, poorer.”Erwin Abonales, project development officer of PCA, stressed in his presentation that the copra commodity has a low buying price in Samar.  The price of rice is P50 per kilo while copra is at P12 per kilo.“A farmer must at least sell (five) 5 kilos of copra to be able to buy a kilo of rice,” he added.With this, the TWG will hold a Stakeholders’ Consultation Meeting on Feb. 4 where various sectors and stakeholders are expected to be present. There wi…

MANILA -- Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin on Thursday formally thanked the Cebu City government for donating a 1.5-hectare property meant to house a judiciary complex.“I consider myself the lucky man who gets to announce this acceptance of donation and to witness the actual signing of the Deed of Donation. I know many Chief Justices before me have worked with the Court Administrator and the Cebu City local government unit regarding the site of the judicial complex, but the fulfillment of all their hard work has thankfully landed on me,” the top magistrate said in a statement.On Wednesday, Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez and Cebu City Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña signed the deed of donation for the Supreme Court and the city government over the 15,041.69-square meter South Road properties.The city government donated the said property in exchange for the 7,123-square meter lot it earlier donated, which was originally intended solely for the Court of Appeals (CA) Cebu City Station.The…

MANILA -- Investigations are still ongoing to determine the extent of the involvement of the Ajang-Ajang, a subgroup loosely affiliated with the Abu Sayyaf Group, in the twin explosions that killed 22 persons and wounded more than a hundred others in Jolo, Sulu last January 27.This was disclosed by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Col. Noel Detoyato when sought for an update on the incident Thursday."Pursued pa rin ang involvement ng Ajang-Ajang subgroup ng ASG, kasi sila ang may pattern of atrocities sa lugar na yan (We are still pursuing the involvement of the Ajang-Ajang subgroup of the ASG because they are have a pattern of atrocities in that place)," he said in a text message to the Philippine News Agency.When asked if the angle of a suicide bombing is still being investigated, Detoyato said this is still strongly considered."Yung (The) angle ng (of a) suicide bomber as a method of delivery and execution, is also strongly considered…

BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 31 -- The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) in Caraga Region in partnership with local government units recently breaks ground with two infrastructure projects totaling Php158 million.These are the construction of the Php50 Million Communal Irrigation System (CIS) in Barangay Poblacion, Rosario, Agusan del Sur and the construction of the 3.62-kilometer Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) in Barangay R.E. Ecleo, San Jose, Province of Dinagat Islands amounting to Php108 million.The construction of 4.76-km Main Canal with structures of the Limbatangan CIS in Rosario has a length of 4,961 meters with 23 units of canal structures to serve 264 hectares of rice area in Barangays Libuac, Poblacion and Tagbayan.The said project is seen to increase rice production from 3 metric tons to 4 metric tons per hectare for conventional rice farming and 3 metric tons to 3.6 metric tons per hectare for natural farming. In addition, a total of 1,623 household…

MANILA -- A lawyer has been suspended for two years from the practice of law by the Supreme Court (SC) for “underhanded tactics” against his opposing counsel, former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, who filed the complaint 12 years ago.In a seven-page decision dated December 4, 2018 penned by Associate Justice Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe and made available late Wednesday, the SC found lawyer Rizal P. Balbin guilty of violating the Code of Professional Responsibility (CPR).The SC also gave Balbin a stern warning that a repetition of the same or similar acts would be dealt with more severely aside from the suspension.Roque, in his complaint, claimed that after he had secured a judgment against Balbin’s client, the latter made various telephone calls and sent text messages and electronic mails not just to him, but also to his friends and other clients, threatening to file disbarment and criminal cases against him.He further claimed that in view of his “high profile status,” Balbin als…

MANILA -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) is now looking for two persons of interest behind Wednesday's grenade explosion at a mosque in Zamboanga City.“Yung grenade throwing sa Zamboanga City, may two persons of interest. Kasalukuyang kinikilala na ito dahil mapapansin natin, wala tayong nakuhang CCTV (footage) dun sa lugar at may kadiliman ang lugar (We have two persons of interest in the grenade throwing in Zamboang City. We are currently determining their identities because as we have noticed, we do not have CCTV footage from the area and it is a bit dark there),” Banac told reporters in a press briefing on Thursday.Banac's remarks were echoed by Chief Supt. Emmanuel Luis Licup, Zamboanga Peninsula police director, noting that they already have a lead on the incident.Licup, however, said they cannot divulge other information related to operational matters.“We have ordered all our provincial directors to get in touch with other faith-based groups and in fact yesterday …

MANILA -- The four persons of interest in the twin bomb explosions that ripped through a church in Jolo, Sulu who have surrendered to authorities to clear their names, are now deemed innocent.“They were removed as persons of interest in connection with the bombing incident in Jolo, Sulu. Yesterday, they freely went to the police station to give their sworn statement that they were not involved in the incident. They denied involvement in the bombing of the (Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral) in Jolo, Sulu,” Senior Supt. Bernard Banac, PNP spokesperson, told reporters Thursday.He said the four were immediately released upon verification of their statements.Banac also said based on the probe of the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG), there was no alias Kamah among the four persons who surrendered.“As of now, we continue to hunt down and probe those behind the bombing of the cathedral in Jolo, Sulu, especially the bandit ASG,” he said.On Wednesday, Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, Western Min…

LEGAZPI CITY -- The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Bicol, in a joint operation with the police, National Bureau of Investigation and the Armed Forces of the Philippine (AFP), on Wednesday arrested a suspected drug pusher with PHP3.4 million worth of shabu in his possession.PDEA-Bicol acting regional director Christian Frivaldo, in a phone interview on Thursday, said Benedict Oliveros, 18, single, of Barangay San Isidro, Pili, Camarines Sur, was collared at around 10:05 p.m. in a buy-bust operation along the Obelisk-Eco Homes Road in Barangay Puro here.Operatives seized from the suspect two knot-tied transparent plastic sachets containing 500 grams of suspected shabu.Wednesday’s confiscation brought to PHP6.8 million the total worth of shabu seized in buy-bust operations in this city since last week.On Jan. 24, PDEA was able to confiscate another PHP3.4 million worth of suspected shabu in Barangay Bogtong here.Joint PDEA and police operatives arrested Victor Balictar Jr.,…

TALISAY, Batangas — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) regional office in Calabarzon reported on Tuesday that the fish kill phenomenon in Taal Lake is due to an upwelling of sulfur triggered by the strong northeastern winds that accompany an extreme temperature drop in the volcanic lake.The "sulfur upwelling" has been monitored over the weekend in the volcanic waters off Barangays Santa Maria, Buco, Caloocan and Sampaloc in this lakeshore town. It is described as the release of a lethal gas called hydrogren sulfide that takes place when the "Amihan" or northeastern wind disturbs the sediments in the lake bottom.Nenita S. Kawit, officer-in-charge of BFAR-Batangas Inland Fisheries Technology Outreach Station (BFAR–BIFTOS) tasked to monitor the water quality of the Taal Lake, explained that sulfur upwelling is a natural phenomenon that occurs annually, usually between the months of November and February.She reported that their monitoring station has …

BACOLOD CITY -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has recognized a recently-opened store-cum-coffee shop in this city for advocating zero waste.The certificate of recognition was given by the Community Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO) -Bago City, headed by Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya, to Wala Usik Tiangge+Kapehan, a social enterprise being run by the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PRRCFI).“Wala usik” means zero waste or no wastage in Hiligaynon.Considered as Negros Island’s first zero-waste store, Wala Usik, which opened on January 21, is located at Door 6, Teresa Building on Lacson St. in Barangay Mandalagan.PRRCFI executive director Dave Albao said on Thursday the response to Wala Usik is positively overwhelming. “I think there is a momentum of awareness on why we need to reduce waste at source,” he said.Ida Vecino, social enterprise officer of Wala Usik Tiangge+Kapehan, said the concept of zero-waste is new to many Negre…

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The police is looking at several angles in the killing of a village councilor of Polomolok town, South Cotabato province on Wednesday.   

Supt. Samuel Cadungon, chief of the Polomolok municipal police station, said Thursday that among the angles they are investigating are work-related circumstances to establish the motive behind the murder of Barangay Rubber councilor Jemuel Cariaga.

Cariaga was shot dead by suspected hired gunmen while on his way to the village proper on board a motorcycle at about 8:20 a.m.

Cadungon said investigators are looking into the victim’s activities as a village official, as well as other personal transactions.

He said Cariaga chaired the barangay council’s peace and order committee and was active in the campaign against illegal drugs and criminality in the area.

The slain village official had initiated several anti-crime programs in the village, including the establishment of barangay security outposts.

“These might have earned him th…

MANILA -- Malacañang on Thursday offered sympathies to the family of the 39-year-old Filipino household service worker who was executed for murder in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.“I would like to express our condolences to the bereaved family of the OFW who has been executed,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.Panelo described the exaction as “unfortunate” since government did all that it could to save the Filipino worker from death row.“Our government extended help to this Filipino. We provided a lawyer for her and we gave regular updates to the family,” he said.“It’s just unfortunate that this particular case, the Sharia law, does not apply where blood money...can be a reason to stop the execution. But we tried. The DFA tried very hard to help,” he added.The Saudi Supreme Judicial Council classified her case "as one in which blood money does not apply under Sharia law”, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).The DFA did not provide add…

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna, January 31 (PIA) – The Laguna Agricultural Trading Center (LATC), also known as Bagsakan Center, made available the affordable National Food Authority (NFA) rice in their market starting last January 24.

Provincial Agriculturist Marlon Tobias explained the reason why they added NFA rice to the products offered in LATC.

“Para ma-encourage rin iyong mga tao na mamili rito, so pag bumibili sila ng bigas pwede na rin silang mamili ng gulay na mura.”

(To encourage people to visit the bagsakan center and so when they buy rice, they may also buy cheap vegetables)

The partner retailers of LATC will be selling NFA rice based on the Agency’s prescribed limit per day. The rice is sold for 27Php per kilo and each buyer may buy a maximum of five kilos.

“Kami ay naanyayahan ng Department of Agriculture dahil mayroon silang ganito na bagsakang tinatawag na dinadayo ng mga tao at kami ay tumugon bilang kami ay isang asosasyon ng magtitingiang bigas sa buong Pilipinas,” said Conf…

MANILA -- Immigration officers have always been strict when checking passports and documents. How can we assure that heightened security measures are being implemented? Are there differences in performing their jobs during ordinary days compared to when an airport is on "full alert"?

In an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Wednesday, Immigration Port Operations Division chief, Grifton Medina, explained the heightened security measures being done.

Currently, all the airports in the country are on "full alert" following the Jolo church bombing last January 27.

Similarly, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has declared a "heightened alert" against foreign terrorists. BI earlier issued a statement that this announcement was made because the Islamic State (IS) has apparently claimed responsibility for the attack.

Medina explained that BI officers are stricter during "heightened alert" status.

“We are stricter in checking the documents. W…