The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) has been working nonstop since last year’s onslaught of Typhoon Odette to assist affected plantation areas. Of the estimated PHP8-billion damage in the agriculture sector, PHP1.58 billion are in the coconut sector, according to data shared on Monday. In a Facebook post, the PCA said the Quick Response Fund was not enough but they sourced out other forms of assistance through its regional field offices. Transport assistance was provided by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to deliver 140 chainsaws for the clearing and disposal of damaged coconut trees – 50 to Surigao, 30

The Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, otherwise known as Quiapo Church, will be closed for three days starting Monday for massive disinfection. Fr. Douglas Badong, parochial vicar, said the basilica will not accept devotees from January 3 to 6 to give way disinfection activities in support of efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Masses will continue to be aired online. “The leadership of Quiapo Church, led by Msgr. (Hernando) Coronel, due to the news of the sudden increase in Covid cases in Manila, we thought that temporarily, the Quiapo church will be closed,” Badong

The city government has temporarily suspended effective January 2 the issuance of quick response travel permits (QTP) for tourists or leisure travelers as the city prepares new guidelines for non-essential travels. Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who is on mandatory quarantine after traveling to the United States to visit his parents during the holidays, said in a phone interview on Monday that he has been holding online meetings with city officials to set the new guidelines that will be covered in an executive order. He said that aside from decreasing the daily arrival ceiling which is currently at 5,000, the city will

The local government here is expecting more than 12,000 businesses to renew their permits this year. Renewal applications can be submitted until January 20 so as not to incur penalties, according to Local Economic Development Investment and Promotions (LEDIP) chief Velma Jane Lao in an interview Monday. “They can still do so until the end of the month but there is already a penalty,” she said. “We expect more than 12,000 businesses to renew this year. I think the other year it even reached 14,000.” To facilitate smooth processing and ensure that safety protocols are followed, the city government is

Baby sea turtles emerged from a guarded hatchery in Bangui, Ilocos Norte and were guided back to the wild before the dark on Monday. Eduardo Angadol, forestry senior manager of North Luzon Renewables and one of the spokespersons of the “pawikan” (sea turtle) conservation group in the province, reported to environment officials that the new hatchlings at the Bangui wind farm formed part of the relocated eggs last November to keep them safe during high tide and protect them from predators. “The pawikan eggs in nest No. 4 laid last November 13 are emerging and we can release the hatchling