Provincial

Over 40 paraws to compete in Iloilo boat races

ILOILO CITY – Around 40 paraws or sailboats with outriggers will be competing in the main sailing event that serves as the highlight of the 50th Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival scheduled on March 19.Joyce Clavecillas, executive director of the Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. that manages the... Read More

Sea travels in Surigao Sur temporarily suspended due to LPA

BUTUAN CITY – The Coast Guard Station in Surigao del Sur (CGS-SDS) ordered on Tuesday the temporary suspension of travels of several sea vessels as a low-pressure area (LPA) continues to threaten the province.“Voyage of vessels will resume until further notice and upon the improvement of... Read More

DOH to give free eye surgery to La Union patients

MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – About 217 diabetic patients in La Union province are set to undergo free glaucoma and cataract surgery through the initiative of the Department of Health - Center for Health and Development (DOH-CHD) 1 (Ilocos Region).In a statement issued on Tuesday, DOH-CHD-1... Read More

Ormoc to boost disaster response with new water filtration system

ORMOC CITY – The Energy Development Corporation (EDC) on Monday turned over a PHP5.4-million water filtration system to the city government here to boost its post-disaster response.The mobile facility can filter 3,000 liters of water from various sources for drinking in an hour intended during... Read More

Zamboanga City water district implements rationing scheme

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Zamboanga City Water District (ZCWD) has implemented a rationing scheme in two of its service areas effective March 14 due to supply shortage.The affected areas are the Labuan and Vitali water systems catering to residents on the western and eastern parts of the... Read More

Leyte town gets first sea ambulance in the province

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) regional office here has turned over to the local government unit of Bato town, the first sea ambulance in Leyte province.DOH Eastern Visayas Regional Director Exuperia Sabalberino on Tuesday said the PHP4-million sea ambulance is funded through... Read More

Ilocos Norte to hire 220 tourism ambassadors

LAOAG CITY – The Ilocos Norte government on Tuesday said it will hire 220 "tourism ambassadors" in preparation for the influx of tourists this summer.Aianree Raquel, head of the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office (INTO), said the ambassadors will serve as tourist aides and storytellers in various... Read More

1st jail library in Davao Region opens

DAVAO CITY – The first library in a jail facility in the Davao Region opened at the Davao City Jail (DCJ) Annex here Monday.The Social Entrepreneurship Technology and Business Institute (SETBI) College, the backbone of the "College Education Behind Bars" project, funded the construction of the... Read More

Mindoro mayor demands aid for oil spill victims

POLA, Oriental Mindoro – The mayor of this town gave the owner of the sunken MT Princess Empress oil tanker 10 days to address the immediate needs of residents affected by the oil spill.Mayor Jennifer Cruz demanded from the RDC Reield Marine Services "to make residents feel their direct... Read More

DA-7 sticks to culling policy to combat ASF virus in Carcar

CEBU CITY – The Department of Agriculture in Central Visayas (DA-7) on Tuesday said it will adhere to the national policy in preventing the further spread of the African swine fever (ASF) virus by culling pigs within the 500-meter radius.Dr. Daniel Ventura, ASF coordinator of the DA-7,... Read More

Coastal waters of Eastern Visayas now red tide-free: BFAR

TACLOBAN CITY – San Pedro Bay in Samar province has been cleared of red tide, making the seawaters of the Eastern Visayas region completely free from the toxic organism, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said in its advisory issued on Tuesday.The fisheries bureau said... Read More

Maguindanao councilor wanted for violating anti-terror act nabbed

MANILA – Policemen have arrested a municipal councilor wanted for violation of anti-terror law during a law enforcement operation at the Cotabato airport in Maguindanao del Norte province Monday afternoon.Abdulwadod Sangki, a member of the Ampatuan town council in Maguindanao del Sur province,... Read More

2 NPA 'hitmen' arrested in Agusan Norte

BUTUAN CITY – A team of police and military operatives have arrested over the weekend two alleged hitmen of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte province, a police official said Monday.Brig. Gen. Pablo Labra II, director of the Police Regional Office... Read More

Fish feed mill to lower production costs in Aurora

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Preparations are now underway for the operation of a fish feed mill in Baler town, Aurora province that is expected to bring down the cost of feeds.Wilfredo Cruz, regional director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Central Luzon (BFAR-3), said on... Read More

Carcar City declares state of calamity amid ASF infection

CEBU CITY – The Carcar City government approved on Monday a resolution declaring the entire locality under a state of calamity amid the African swine fever (ASF) virus infection in three of its 15 barangays.Lawyer Eddie Barrita, the chief of the City Legal Division, said although not all the... Read More

P18-M shabu seized, 15 suspects netted in Central Visayas

CEBU CITY – Anti-narcotics agents have seized more than PHP18 million worth of suspected shabu and arrested 15 personalities in various anti-drug sting operations in Central Visayas region, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-7) said Monday.Leia Alcantara, PDEA-7 information officer,... Read More

Troops stay in Negros Oriental until peace is restored - Viscom

CEBU CITY – The military's Visayas Command (Viscom) on Monday said soldiers deployed over the weekend to Negros Oriental province will assist the Philippine National Police and will not leave the province until peace and order is restored following the murder of Governor Roel Degamo.Lt.... Read More

DSWD allots P31.5M for solo parents’ cash-for-work in Bulacan

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Luzon (DSWD-3) has allotted PHP31.5 million for the implementation of a program that could strengthen community resilience against climate change.Under the DSWD’s Risk Resiliency Program-Climate... Read More

Antique prov'l library to launch storytelling program for moms

SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The Antique provincial library will be launching “Istoryahi Ko Nay,” or a storytelling program to encourage mothers to develop the reading habit among their children.Antique provincial librarian Grace Magullado, in an interview Monday, said they... Read More

DOLE extends livelihood aid to tourism groups in Catanduanes

LEGAZPI CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment in Bicol (DOLE-5) through its Catanduanes provincial office has extended livelihood assistance to two community-based tourism organizations (CBTOs) in Bato town in Catanduanes province.In an interview on Monday, Johana Vi Gasga DOLE-5... Read More