The Philippines has received a total of 1,961,087 foreign visitors as of Nov. 8, the highest arrival figure since the onset of the pandemic. Latest data from the Department of Tourism showed that this year’s top markets– the United States, South Korea, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan–make up half of the total arrivals. From February to Nov. 8, over 370,000 visitors came from the US; 272,299 from South Korea; 93,011 from Australia; 85,784 from Canada; 74,777 from the UK; 73,054 from Japan; and 39,982 from India; 38,270 from Singapore; 33,696 from Malaysia; 32,139 from Vietnam; and
Close to PHP36 million worth of suspected shabu and marijuana was seized in various anti-illegal drug operations in Negros Oriental in 2021. A consolidated report from the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) on Wednesday showed that last year, the total volume of shabu seized was pegged at 5,255.26 grams. On the other hand, marijuana seized was pegged at 95.74 grams. The aggregate street value of the illegal drugs totaled over PHP35.747 million, the report said. The NOPPO conducted 474 operations last year in which 515 suspects were arrested. These included 68 high-value individuals, 422
Laua-an town is requesting the National Housing Authority (NHA) to fast-track the rehabilitation of the housing project for families displaced by Super Typhoon Yolanda for use by victims of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng. Mayor Aser Baladjay, in an interview Wednesday, said the local government did not accept the 770-unit housing project built in Barangay Lugta because it was in a flood-prone area with no drainage system. “We would like to request the NHA to conduct the rehabilitation of the housing units in Barangay Lugta so that it could be used by those who really need shelter now,” Baladjay
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has arrested a total of 25,569 wanted persons in intensified anti-criminality operations from July 1 to Oct. 8 this year. In a statement Wednesday, PNP chief, Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., said among those arrested were 19 Top Most Wanted Persons (TMWP) with a monetary reward offered by the government for information leading to their arrest. “Nonetheless, PNP Units accomplished the duty of law enforcement to implement orders of the Court to effect the arrest of criminal offenders,” Azurin said in a statement. He further noted that from July to October 2022, the
Inspection of cargoes and vehicles coming from Panay Island to prevent the entry of pigs and pork products here has been intensified in two major seaports as cases of African swine fever (ASF) have spread to five localities in the neighboring Iloilo Province. As of Wednesday, some 40 job order (JO) workers of the city have already been deployed to assist in the monitoring and inspection while 10 personnel of the Bacolod City Police Office have also been assigned at the Bredco and Banago ports. Dr. Placeda Lemana, officer-in-charge of the Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), said
The United States government, through the Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), recently gathered international experts to train local government representatives in developing strategies to mitigate the impact of and reduce the demand for illegal drugs in the Philippines. From Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, at least 120 delegates representing 19 local government units attended the 5th National Conference of Anti-Drug Abuse Coalitions on the theme “Strengthening Prevention Strategies for Drug Free Communities,” organized by the US Embassy in the Philippines, the Association of Anti-Drug Abuse Coalitions of the Philippines, Inc. (AADAC), and
