An official of the United Nations in the Philippines has urged every Bangsamoro to once and for all end violence against women (VAW). “It is crucial that women, girls, men, and boys are allies engaged in meaningful conversations about changing norms, beliefs, and practices that are harmful to women and girls,” United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) country representative Dr. Leila Joudane said in a statement released here Monday. Joudane was the guest of honor during the culminating program of the 18-day campaign to end violence against women in adjacent Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao on Sunday. She stressed in her statement that

Mayor Sara Z. Duterte is hopeful that the next local administration would continue using the Safe Davao Quick Response (DQR) system for future gifts or “ayuda” (social services) from the government to Dabawenyos. In a radio interview Monday, she said that the mechanism would be much easier and allow a smooth flow on the distribution process. “The DQR will also be our e-wallet for Dabawenyos, and the hard plastic card will also serve as the senior citizen’s ID and the PWD (persons with disability) ID,” Duterte added. She said that the DQR of the senior citizens and PWDs will be

Members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Barangay Conversion, Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija will soon have a sustainable source of livelihood through growing high-value crops even during dry months. This, as the Department of Science and Technology Regional Office 3 (DOST-3), in partnership with the Central Luzon State University (CLSU), provided the 4Ps beneficiary group some 30 units of vertical tower hydroponics system with a protective covering that they can use to start growing high-value crops like strawberries, lettuce and basil. DOST officer-in-charge-Nueva Ecija Provincial Science and Technology Director Leidi Mel Sicat on Monday said the vertical tower hydroponics

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday denied the three motions to intervene on a petition to cancel the certificate of candidacy (COC) of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. In a 13-page order, the poll body’s Second Division junked the motions for intervention separately filed by Rommel Bautista and others; Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. and others; and by the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) in connection with the petition filed by Fr. Christian Buenafe and others. “It shall unduly delay or prejudice the adjudication of the rights of the original parties in the case. If the instant Motion for Intervention

At least 833,474 residents in Negros Oriental have completed the Step 2 registration process for the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys), the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in the province said. Engr. Ariel Fortuito, PSA-Negros Oriental chief, said in an interview on Monday that the number of registrants as of December 12 represents 96.57 percent of their target of 854,257 for this year. This means that there remain 20,793 individuals for registration until the end of this month, he noted. Fortuito is optimistic they will reach the target on or before December 31. The top five areas in the province with the

The call to suspend the 2022 national and local elections is ignoring the Constitution, an official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Monday. Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said pushing back the scheduled May 9 polls is disregarding the Charter. “When you call for suspension of elections of this magnitude, nationwide and for at least a year, you’re basically saying ignore the Constitution, not hold elections the way the Constitution says it should. The implications of that is the need to amend Constitution. You cannot ignore the Constitution,” he said in a virtual press briefing. “You want to suspend elections