The Police Regional Office in Bicol (PRO-5) has further intensified its campaign against loose firearms across the region after a suspect armed with an M16 rifle killed five members of a family in Milaor, Camarines Sur on Friday last week. In an interview on Monday, Maj. Malu Calubaquib, PRO-5 spokesperson, said under their different intensified campaigns such as “Oplan Bakal”, “Oplan Sita” and “Oplan Katok”, and the conduct of checkpoints, authorities have confiscated more unlicensed guns from January to the first week of November 2021 compared to those seized during the same period last year. “Based on the data from

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Monday said he will consider either shortening or lifting the 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew in the province, which is under Alert Level 2 community quarantine restriction until November 14. However, he said he would consult the city and municipal mayors before making a decision. “If I see that majority of the local chief executives are in favor of it, we may shorten or totally stop the curfew hours,” Lacson told Capitol reporters in an interview. The current curfew in Negros Occidental started on June 1 as part of the continued response

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday reminded the public to strictly adhere to minimum health and safety guidelines in going to shopping malls and parks in Metro Manila. In his regular Palace briefing, Roque said the opening of public places such as malls and parks for families, along with their children, was meant to push for public health benefits and gradual reviving of the economy hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. “Hindi po dahilan ito para maging super spreaders iyong ating malling (Going to malls should not be the reason for super spreader events),” he said. He also reminded mall

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) has resulted in increased local production and yield, affordable and stable supply of rice, and more benefits for farmers. In response to critics, DA spokesperson Noel Reyes shared in a Viber message on Monday that starting this month, more than 1.6 million Filipino rice farmers tilling a land area measuring two hectares or less will have a share from the PHP7.6 billion excess tariff collected from rice imports the past two years, as indicated in the RTL. The cash aid will be released through the Intervention Monitoring Card, which

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) on Monday introduced three Niche Centers in the Regions (NICERs) supporting the United Nation’s (UN) Sustainable Cities and Communities targets. “In support of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the DOST, through these NICERs, is providing possible R&D (research and development) interventions that will enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization, reduce the adverse environmental impact of cities, decrease economic losses caused by natural disasters, and develop holistic policies and community plans,” DOST Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara said in a virtual symposium. In the National Capital Region (NCR), Guevara said the Center for Astronomy

The city government of Manila has lifted the mandatory use of face shields when going out, except in medical and hospital facilities. Executive Order No. 42 issued on Monday declared the use of face shields as mandatory in the city only in hospital settings, medical clinics, and other medical facilities. “But in the malls, in the streets, or anywhere in their barangays and communities and business, it is not mandatory anymore para naman sa ganoon, maibsan naman yung gastusin ng mga tao (to ease financial burden on the people),” Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso said in an ambush interview after the