Day: October 3, 2024

MANILA: Over 7.4 million individuals have applied as voters during the seven-month nationwide registration period for the May 2025 midterm elections. The latest data from the Commission Elections (Comelec) released Wednesday showed 7,427,354 applications were processed from Feb. 12 to Sept. 30. This, however, excluded Batanes province, which extended the voter sign-up until Tuesday due to Super Typhoon Julian. Calabarzon topped the number of registrants with 1,223,159, followed by the National Capital Region with 997,062 and Central Luzon with 834,467. Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has processed 416,866 registrants; Davao region, 411,879; Central Visayas, 387,586; Bicol, 365,464; Northern

LEGAZPI CITY: The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 5 (Bicol), through its Albay Provincial Office, provided livelihood opportunities to parents and guardians of child laborers in Pio Duran town on Thursday. In a statement, DOLE-5 director Imelda Gatinao said PHP4.6 million worth of starter kits were distributed to 146 beneficiaries. The kits are for various skills that could be used to start businesses such as baking, dressmaking, food and fish vending, glass and aluminum installation, hair cutting and hairdressing, nail care services, and welding. Gatinao said the project aims to enhance livelihood activities in the community and increase the

CEBU CITY: Suspended Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and his entire slate on Thursday filed their certificates of candidacy at the Commission on Elections” Cebu City south district office. Before submitting his COC seeking a fresh mandate, the suspended mayor and his Barug Team Rama attended Mass at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and held a mini-rally along Mabini Street in front of the church. The president of the Association of Barangay Councils, Kasambagan Barangay Captain Franklyn Ong, also filed his COC as Rama’s running mate. ‘Join me in the quest to stand for the city. Let’s be together to make

ILOILO CITY: The city government here will acquire a lot in Barangay Calumpang in Molo district to accommodate 64 families affected by a project in Jaro district and displaced by Typhoon Carina. Lawyer Peter Jason Millare, head of the Iloilo City Local Housing Office (ICLHO), said families affected by a project funded under the Green, Green Program of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) at the back of Jaro’s big market will be relocated to the 6,957-square-meter lot owned by the Tajanlangit family. ‘We are brewing a project under the Green, Green Program from DBM to develop open spaces

BAGUIO CITY: Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) gears to cut further the already single-digit systems loss of Baguio and Benguet’s sole electric distributor to benefit consumers through lower power costs. In a briefing Thursday, Beneco general manager Engr. Melchor Licoben said among the efforts to address the technical and non-technical systems losses were the implementation and advocacy of the anti-pilferage law and training of meter readers to avoid errors. By penalizing people involved in illegal connections, among others, power losses can be avoided, he said. Beneco is also increasing the size of its substation, its electric lines, and electric meters are