Killing of 4 soldiers in Jolo: Duterte continues appeal for Army to calm down
ZAMBOANGA CITY—President Rodrigo Duterte reminded soldiers on Friday (July 3) that their main task is to protect the people… Keep Reading
Turkey: Pilots, others, on trial for helping Ghosn escape
ISTANBUL — A private airline official, four pilots, and two flight attendants went on trial in Istanbul on Friday, accused of smuggling former Nissan Motor Co. chairman Carlos Ghosn out of Japan to Lebanon, via Turkey. Turkish prosecutors are seeking up to eight years in prison each for the four pilots and the airline official… Keep Reading
12 new Covid-19 cases reported in Western Visayas
ILOILO CITY – Western Visayas recorded 12 new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections, bringing the region’s total tally to 365 as of Friday. The new cases were from the 663 laboratory results released by the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) sub-national laboratory and the Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital Molecular Laboratory. In a virtual presser, Dr.… Keep Reading
Strong e-payments growth seen
MANILA – Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno said he is optimistic about the further expansion of electronic payments in the country after consumers saw their benefits during the lockdown due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) health crisis. In a virtual briefing on Thursday, Diokno said authorities consider as a success the… Keep Reading
P1.3-B irrigation project in Nueva Ecija to generate power
IRRIGATION PROJECT. NIA Administrator Ricardo Visaya (extreme left) and UPRIIS Department Manager Rosalinda Bote (center) lead the groundbreaking of the PHP1.3-billion irrigation project in Lupao, Nueva Ecija on Thursday (July 2, 2020). The project will irrigate at least 840 hectares of rice fields and benefit some 562 farming families in four villages. (Photo by Marilyn… Keep Reading
Bacolod City now has 14 ambulance units
NEW AMBULANCE UNITS. The five brand-new ambulance units turned over by Bacolod City led by Mayor Evelio Leonardia to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and four barangays on Thursday afternoon (July 2, 2020). Bacolod now has acquired a total of 14 ambulances. (Photo courtesy of Bacolod City PIO) BACOLOD CITY — The city… Keep Reading
2 dead, 73 injured in blast at Turkish fireworks factory
ANKARA, Turkey — An explosion at a fireworks factory in northwestern Turkey on Friday has killed two people and injured at least 73 other people, officials said. There were an estimated 150 workers at the factory outside the town of Hendek, in Sakarya province, Gov. Cetin Oktay Kaldirim told state-run Anadolu Agency. Two people were… Keep Reading
Amnesty International: New terror law ‘another setback for human rights’
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—-The human rights group Amnesty International (AI) said the signing by President Rodrigo Duterte of the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act is “yet another setback for human rights.” “Under Duterte’s presidency, even the mildest government critics can be labelled terrorists,” said Nicholas Bequelin, AI’s Asia-Pacific regional director. “This administration has effectively crafted… Keep Reading
Keeping tabs in Quezon: 1 new COVID-19 case, 1 recovery
LUCENA CITY—Quezon province has recorded a new coronavirus case and another recovery, according to the Quezon public information office (QPIO) on Friday (July 3). In its 5 p.m. report, the provincial information office, said the new COVID-19 patients was from Infanta town. The local government of Infanta, on its Facebook page, said the… Keep Reading
More than 100K students enroll in Antique
ENROLLMENT. The Department of Education Division of Antique, in a June 19 press conference, appeals to parents to enroll their children. Superintendent Dr. Felisa Beriong (middle, front row) said that as of July 3, 2020, there are more than 100,000 students who have enrolled. (PNA photo by Annabel Consuelo J. Petinglay SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique… Keep Reading
6 arrested in Bacolod drug den
DRUG DEN. An agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency – Negros Occidental Provincial Office conducts an inventory of the suspected shabu seized from six suspects inside a drug den in Barangay Bata, Bacolod City on Friday (July 3, 2020). The operation led to the recovery of about 15 grams of the prohibited substance with… Keep Reading
NegOcc hog raisers receive P1.5-M funding aid
AID FOR HOG RAISERS. Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson (first row, right) and Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena (left) with the officers and members of the Alliance of Hog Raisers Association of Negros Occidental during the launch of the swine-fattening project held at the Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City on Friday (July 3, 2020). The association… Keep Reading
Tents to quarantine stranded individuals rising in Albay
LIGAO CITY—Authorities in the Bicol are putting up tents to quarantine individuals returning to the region from coronavirus-infected places. One such tent was put up at the Josefina Belmonte Duran-Albay Provincial Hospital (JBDAPH) on Friday (July 3) for the returning Bicolanos. It was put up at the Albay Provincial Drug Rehabilitation and Treatment… Keep Reading
5 firms to make enhanced nutribun
(Image grabbed from DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña’s Facebook page) MANILA — At least five companies have already expressed interest to adopt or make the Food and Nutrition Research Institute’s enhanced nutribun (e-nutribun), an official said on Friday. These firms are all located in Luzon and are under negotiation with the FNRI, Director Mario Capanzana told the… Keep Reading
DOTr assures assistance to waiting passengers at NAIA
Some 2,000 monoblock chairs were delivered at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for passengers waiting for their flights. President Rodrigo Duterte earlier ordered Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade to look at the situation of the waiting passengers at the airport and provide more chairs. (Photo courtesy by DOTr) MANILA – Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade assured waiting passengers… Keep Reading
Covid-19 cases hit 40K; 1,531 new cases Friday: DOH
MANILA – The number of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections in the country reached 40,336 on Friday, with 1,531 new cases recorded. In its daily Covid-19 bulletin, the Department of Health said that of the 1,531 new cases, 688 were “fresh” or those who received their test results within the last three days, while 843… Keep Reading
‘Fight not over yet:’ Pangilinan denounces passage of Anti-Terror Act
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Francis Pangilinan on Friday denounced the signing into law of the controversial anti-terrorism bill but said he was “not surprised” given what he called was the administration’s “draconian” brand of leadership. “I am not surprised. From Day 1 this Administration unleashed draconian and authoritarian measures as a showcase of its brand… Keep Reading
CHR cites danger of detaining alleged quarantine violators in small spaces
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has raised concerns over how the police handle the arrest of alleged quarantine violators who are consequently placed in detention cells where physical distancing is almost impossible. According to CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia, the detention of arrested persons in small spaces puts them at a… Keep Reading
Allan K saddened by closure of comedy bars due to COVID-19 pandemic
MANILA, Philippines — Comedian Allan K was saddened by the closure of his comedy bars Klownz and Zirkoh due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In an Instagram post on Wednesday, the comedian thanked those who supported the Klownz Comedy Bar in Quezon Avenue, Quezon City. View this post on Instagram Maraming salamat sa lahat nang naging… Keep Reading
Guimaras LGU introduces ID system for easier contact tracing
RESIDENT CARD. Residents of Buenavista, Guimaras leaving or entering the municipality will have to present their barcoded resident identification card to personnel manning the Sto. Rosario wharf starting July 6, 2020. The innovation was introduced by the local IATF for faster contact tracing. (Photo grabbed from Buenavista LGU video) ILOILO CITY — The municipality of Buenavista… Keep Reading
DTI releases 1st batch of loan to small firms under CARES program
LOAN TO SMALL FIRMS. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Small Business Corp. released the initial batch of loans under the Covid-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises (CARES) program. Entrepreneurs from Metro Manila and Cordillera Administrative Region are the first beneficiaries of the microfinancing. (Photo courtesy of DTI) MANILA – The Department of Trade… Keep Reading
No hit-and-run on PH fishing vessel, HK cargo ship crash: PCG
The Hong Kong-based cargo vessel MV Vienna Wood (Photo courtesy of PCG spokesperson Armando Balilo) MANILA – The Hong Kong-flagged cargo ship MV Vienna Wood did not commit a “hit-and-run” when it left the fishing vessel (F/V) Liberty 5 after their collision last Sunday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. In a radio interview over… Keep Reading
Bayan urges public to still ‘resist, protest, speak out’ amid Anti-Terror Law
MANILA, Philippines — With the enactment of the Anti-Terrorism bill into law, activist group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) has vowed to continue speaking up on issues concerning policies of the Duterte administration “especially on the health and economic crisis” the country is facing today. Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes said Friday that President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval… Keep Reading
New radio devices to boost police operations in E. Visayas
BETTER COMMUNICATION. Top officials of the Police Regional Office 8 (Eastern Visayas) lead the ceremonial blessing of 41 high-frequency radios acquired as part of its program to modernize its communication system. The new devices consist of 27 high-frequency base radios that come with desktop and printer and 14 high-frequency manpack radios, the office said on… Keep Reading
DENR-10 picks Bukidnon creek as 'Rivers' award reg'l winner
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY— The Panlibatuhan Creek in Valencia City, Bukidnon, emerged as the regional winner in the recently- concluded regional search for Recognizing Institutions and Individuals Towards Vibrant and Enhanced Rivers (Rivers) for Life Award for the year 2019. The award, announced by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 10 (DENR-10) the… Keep Reading
EU authorizes use of remdesivir to treat coronavirus
BRUSSELS — The European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm, on Friday authorized the use of anti-viral drug remdesivir to treat the new coronavirus. “Today’s authorization of a first medicine to treat COVID-19 is an important step forward in the fight against this virus,” EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said in a statement. “We are granting… Keep Reading
Water remains our saving grace right now
Since its discovery in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected entire nations across the world, destabilizing economies and threatening human lives on a massive scale. In just six months, the virus has infected more than 10 million people, with deaths mounting to half a million, according to the World Health Organization… Keep Reading
‘Very timely, historic’: Senators laud passage of anti-terror bill despite ‘pressures’
MANILA, Philippines — Several senators on Friday lauded President Rodrigo Duterte for signing the Anti-Terrorism Act despite “the pressure coming from different directions” against the passage of the measure. “Much credit goes to (President Duterte). With all the pressure coming from different directions against the signing of the Anti Terrorism Bill into law, at the… Keep Reading
Covid-19 patient in Dumaguete recovers
DUMAGUETE CITY – A coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patient here has recovered based on the negative result of her repeat swab test. City Public Information Officer Dems Rey Demecillo said on Friday that City Health Officer Dr. Maria Sarah Talla already informed Dumaguete Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo, chairperson of the city’s Inter-Agency Task Force on the… Keep Reading
Health workers priority for Covid-19 testing in E. Visayas
COVID-19 TESTING LAB. Medical technologists analyze swab samples at the Eastern Visayas Regional Covid-19 Testing Center (EVCRTC) in Tacloban City in this June 29, 2020 photo. The Department of Health on Friday (July 3, 2020) assured that health workers in Eastern Visayas would be prioritized for Covid-19 testing. (Photo courtesy of EVRCTC) TACLOBAN CITY – The… Keep Reading
Equities index, peso close to new highs on risk-on sentiments
MANILA – Both the peso and the main stocks gauge closed to new highs on Friday as investors cheered positive reports on a possible coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine. The local currency finished the day’s trade at 49.55 to the US dollar from its 49.73 close on Thursday after opening at 49.70 and trading between… Keep Reading
