The inoculation rollout against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in Negros Oriental continues to speed up as the province has received more vaccines from the national government. Assistant Provincial Health Officer Dr. Liland Estacion, in a virtual presser late Tuesday afternoon, said as of October 11, the province has vaccinated 146,228 individuals for the first dose and 151,161 for the second dose, including the one-shot Janssen vaccine, or a total of 297,389. The number does not include the more than 1,000 who were inoculated in Guihulngan City on Tuesday during a mobile vaccination, as the data has yet to be

Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones underscored the importance of the support of the business and private sector in the Philippine education system. During the online Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) general membership meeting on addressing the learning (education) crisis on Tuesday, Briones discussed the budget allocated and assistance preferences for education. “We are underspending in education in relation to our GDP and according to world standards. This is where the different sectors come in, this is where the international partners come in, this is where business comes in. An increasing number of business partners have been helping out. The

Local government units (LGUs) affected by the southwest monsoon enhanced by Tropical Storm Maring are advised to convene for their rapid damage assessment and needs analysis (RDANA) to carry out immediate and appropriate interventions. Cindy Ferrer, spokesperson for the Western Visayas Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), in an interview Wednesday said they can also request for augmentation, especially food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and necessary logistical support. “LGUs are still the one providing assistance to their affected families. They should continue with post-disaster assessment because that will be their basis for

Five men, including two soldiers and a police officer, were arrested for an alleged gun-running attempt here Tuesday. Col. Jibin Bongcayao, Maguindanao Police director, has requested to withhold the identities of the arrested suspects pending investigation. “The police is conducting further investigation to determine if they have companions still out there,” Bongcayao said in an interview with reporters here. Seized during the 11 a.m. operation in Barangay Tamontaka were one 5.56-mm. Bushmaster rifle, two 5.56 M16 rifles, one M4 Carbine rifle, two .45 caliber pistols, two Glock 17 pistols, one ZIGANA 9-mm. pistol, marked money, identification cards, and mobile phones.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday directed all units to set up police assistance desks in cemeteries and memorial parks, in anticipation of early visitors ahead of the country’s commemoration of the Undas holidays. In a statement, PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said this is part of preparations for the occasion to ensure peace and order and prevent superspreader events in these areas. He also ordered police officers to coordinate with local government units (LGUs) on security plans and other related measures. On Tuesday, the Metro Manila Council (MMC) asked LGUs to enact ordinances or adopt resolutions ordering the