Day: September 20, 2024

Manila: The low pressure area spotted in east of extreme Northern Luzon has developed into a tropical depression, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). The weather bureau called the new weather disturbance Tropical Depression Igme. In its latest bulletin issued at 5 p.m. Friday, the weather bureau said that at about 4 p.m. Igme was estimated at 530 km East Northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, and is moving Northwestward at 15 km per hour. It is packed with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center, and gustiness of up to 70 kph, with strong

Manila: It would be in the interest of South Korea to participate in maritime patrols in the South China Sea (SCS) and consider forging a visiting forces agreement (VFA) with the Philippines, experts posited in a conference on Friday. At the Stratbase ADRI forum discussing ways Manila and Seoul could enhance security in the Indo-Pacific, former Korean Defense Vice Minister and Senior Research Fellow at Sejong Institute Shin Beomchul floated the need to expand the level of defense cooperation between the two states. ‘I think we should expand joint military drills, so we have to enhance interoperability and increase level

The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Bicol inaugurated and turned over a bamboo curing facility and nursery worth PHP6.2 million to a farmers’ group in Camarines Sur early this week. In an interview on Friday, Lovella Guarin, DA-Bicol spokesperson, said the facility is expected to boost the productivity and livelihood of the Samahang Organisasyong pang Kalikasan (SOK), which has 84 members in Bula, Camarines Sur. “The bamboo products of the SOK were used as raw materials for fish cages, furniture, bonsai, lampshades, and kubo (nipa huts), which are their major livelihood sources. The bamboo facility was worth PHP4.2 million while

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) and the National Press Club (NPC) have joined forces to urge media practitioners in Northern Mindanao to combat fake news and the illegal cigarette trade. At a seminar held Friday, Rohbert Ambros, Department Manager of the National Tobacco Administration, highlighted the rampant illegal cigarette trade in Mindanao. He said that many of the cigarettes confiscated in recent years are either contraband, counterfeit, or labeled as “illicit whites.” In a video message, Philippine Information Agency Director General Jose Torres Jr. stressed the vital role the media plays in addressing the proliferation of fake news and the

The ringgit was lower against the US dollar in early trade on Friday as falling oil prices weighed on sentiment and as traders took profit after recent gains, analysts said. At 8.11 am, the local note fell to 4.2100/2300 versus the greenback from Thursday’s 28-month high of 4.2025/2105. At the time of writing, the benchmark Brent crude oil dropped to US$74.79 per barrel, falling 0.12 per cent. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the immediate resistance level for the ringgit is currently located at RM4.0728. He noted that the local note had performed favourably