To conserve the remaining forest cover in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-2) said the ban on the issuance of certificates of chainsaw registration, which authorizes its use for tree harvesting, is still suspended, an official said. DENR-2 Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan told reporters on Friday that the move was to ensure the regulation of cutting of trees as part of the intensified forest protection and anti-illegal logging campaign of the agency. A report of the agency’s Enforcement Division showed at least 312 of the 672 issued certificates of chainsaw registration in Cagayan
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon on Friday challenged the counsel of the party of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., (BBM) to a debate, following the disclosure of her vote in the disqualification case against the former lawmaker. “I challenge George Briones of Partido Federal of BBM to a debate on TV. If he thinks he is brighter than me he should agree. The Commission En Banc @COMELEC has no jurisdiction over an administrative complaint against a Commissioner. I am an impeachable officer. You people better study. Let’s debate on TV,” Guanzon said in a Twitter post. Guanzon
Some four Negrense minors, who were abandoned by their parents who are members of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), have been assisted by the municipal government of Calatrava in Negros Occidental. The children’s plight was reported by the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) based in northern Negros to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) on January 20 after troops patrolling remote Barangay Hilub-ang learned about their situation. Of the four, three are boys, aged 16, 10, and seven, while the girl is 13. Their family is from Guihulngan City in Negros
The city government here has released a cash aid of PHP10,000 each to the 696 families whose houses were destroyed during the onslaught of Typhoon Odette last December 16. The two-day distribution at the Gonzaga gym in Barangay Taculing was facilitated by the city’s Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD). Mayor Evelio Leonardia said they have allocated more than PHP6.9 million for financial assistance to the typhoon victims. On Friday, there were 464 recipients after the first 232 beneficiaries received the payout on Thursday. Those who received assistance were residents of barangays Handumanan, Punta Taytay, Tangub, Pahanocoy, Alangilan, Mansilingan,
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has reported that a total of 2,551,957 families have been displaced by Typhoon Odette after it ravaged parts of the Visayas and Mindanao in December last year. In its update Friday, the NDRRMC said the figure is equivalent to 9,109,480 persons residing in 9,588 barangays or villages in the regions of Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Meanwhile, families sheltering in 1,106 evacuation centers were estimated at 56,763 while those receiving help
Mayor Junard Chan on Friday requested the Lapu-Lapu City Council to fast-track the crafting of the annual investment plan (AIP) to pave the way for the swift passage of this year’s annual budget that would finance the affairs of the historical city. In a statement, Chan said before he approves the yearly budget, the city councilors must first pass a resolution approving the AIP. “I hope this year we’ll have a new budget. The city has residents whose houses were damaged by the typhoon who need assistance,” he said. Department heads have been attending the council’s sessions to serve as
