The city’s advocacy body on Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has raised alarm amid an increase in cases of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in this summer capital. “As of August 2022, there were 544 active cases recorded,” Dr. Celiaflor Brillantes, assistant city health officer and action officer of the city’s AIDS Watch Council (AWC), said in a phone interview Wednesday. This is a sharp rise from 122 active cases recorded in May this year, based on earlier data provided by the city’s Health Services Office (HSO). A further leap in cases was noted during the pandemic when
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has prepositioned 34,458 family food packs (FFPs) in strategic areas of Eastern Visayas in preparation for the “rainy days”. The stocking of PHP22.74 million worth of food supplies as of Wednesday will ensure faster delivery of relief goods in case of severe flooding and other disasters, said lawyer Jonalyndie Chua, DSWD 8 (Eastern Visayas) information officer in a phone interview. Of the total, 918 FFPs are in Catbalogan City, Samar province; 1,109 in Naval town, Biliran; 14,634 in Allen, Northern Samar; 1,400 in Santo Niño, Samar; 600 in Almagro, Samar;
The members of the Commission on Appointments (CA) unanimously approved on Wednesday the appointments of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Benjamin Diokno. During the CA deliberation on his appointment, Bersamin recalled that he did not hesitate to accept President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s offer and knew that the position is attached with a very high expectation. “I accepted the presidents invitation without hesitation for it was a call to continue serving our people and country in a greater capacity,” Bersamin told the CA. “I was fully aware too that the position of executive
Two Vietnamese nationals were arrested for kidnapping their compatriot, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported on Wednesday. Citing the report of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group, PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. identified the suspects as Minh Viet Phan, 29, and Chi Trung Nguyen, 27, who were apprehended by AKG operatives on Nov. 17 and 18, respectively. Their arrest came after the kidnap victim, a Vietnamese woman, was rescued in Antipolo City on Nov. 16. Reports showed that on Oct. 29, the victim known as “Ms. Anne” left a hotpot restaurant at the Aseana Business Park near the
Negros Occidental’s provincial government is eyeing to go mainstream with its organic agriculture as it continues its advocacy with the staging of the 15th Negros Island Organic Farmers’ Festival starting Wednesday. The four-day event, which came back after a two-year pause due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, highlights the province’s efforts towards “food safety and brighter market opportunity” through the practice of organic farming. Provincial Agriculturist Edmundo Raul Causing said organic produce is occupying a niche in the agriculture market and is seen to eventually go mainstream. “We are looking at going mainstream with the
The provincial government of Iloilo made available online the basic population and population-related data and information of its 42 municipalities and one component city with the launching of the Iloilo Pop Website project (www.ipop-app.com) on Wednesday. Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., in his message, said the initiative is very significant since it reflects the capacity of the province in terms of its population and human resources. “It is in the Population Office working with our mayors and the Public Employment Service Office of the province that we are able to present to the whole world, in the most
