MANILA – The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said the Mindanao grid remains intact despite the 5.9 magnitude earthquake that hit Davao Oriental Tuesday morning. “The Mindanao grid remains intact as there are no reports of power interruption and damaged transmission facilities in Davao Oriental and nearby areas where the earthquake was felt,” the NGCP said on its Twitter account. The NGCP added its power transmission services remain normal despite the earthquake. NGCP’s power outlook for the Mindanao grid for Tuesday showed that it has 3,110 megawatts (MW) system capacity, with the system peak expected to reach 1,919

MANILA – The Group of Twenty (G20) has recognized the Philippines as an “example country” in the acceleration of Covid-19 vaccine deployment, National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 chief Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said Monday night. Galvez reported that the group of major developed and emerging economies commended the Philippines for ramping up its vaccination efforts despite high hesitancy and low supplies at the early stages of the national immunization program. “They acknowledged that the Philippines is an example country in the acceleration of the vaccine deployment,” Galvez told President Rodrigo Duterte in his prerecorded “Talk to the People”. “And

MANILA – The Aksyon Demokratiko party on Tuesday called for a halt to the spread of disinformation and fake news following reports of supporters abandoning its standard-bearer, Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso. Party chair Ernest Ramel said it is a “sinister ploy” to make it appear that volunteers and party members are defecting to the camp of Vice President Leni Robredo. “We see no end to these diabolical machinations aimed at weakening the political party of Mayor Isko,” Ramel said in a statement. “Enough with the disinformation. Let’s put a stop to a rehash of defections which is already tantamount to

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Motorists going in and out of Nueva Ecija via Daang Maharlika can now have safer trips following the completion of some PHP95.72-million worth of improvement projects by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – 2nd District Engineering Office. The road and drainage improvements along the 1.785-kilometer section of the highway in Barangay Castellano, San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija are expected to provide immediate relief to motorists and commuters as well as safety during heavy rains. Nueva Ecija District Engineer Elpidio Y. Trinidad said on Tuesday the infrastructure works along Daang Maharlika were implemented

DAVAO CITY – The mayor of Mati City in Davao Oriental has offered PHP500,000 to anyone who can provide information pertaining to the identity of Barangay Matiao village chief Ronnie Valera’s assailant. “I decided to provide reward money to further encourage people to approach the authorities and provide information of the assailant,” Mati Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat said in a statement Tuesday. Valera, 57, was shot while resting on a hammock inside his residence around 8:30 p.m. on April 13. He sustained a gunshot wound to the head and was declared dead at the Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center. Authorities

MANILA – Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año on Tuesday dismissed a report issued by the US State Department that Philippine security forces are involved in human rights violations. “The DILG denounces the US State Department’s 2021 Country Report on Human Rights Practices released recently on the alleged abuses by security forces in the Philippines as the Report is sweeping, rhetorical, and unfounded,” he said. Año said the US report is only a “mere repetition of unsubstantiated accusations against Philippine security forces that were loosely picked up from the traditional and social media”, which depicts a