Day: October 8, 2024

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya here switched posts, running for congressman and mayor, respectively, under Team Asenso Bacolod in the May 2025 elections. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran is challenging Gasataya for the mayoral post as both are set to finish their three terms after the elections next year. ‘I thank Mayor Albee and the Team Asenso for the trust they have given me. It’s not that Mayor Albee is going to leave us; it’s only that when you’re in a team, you have to play different roles with one common objective. That is, do

Western Visayas is now on the road to recovery from the impact of the African swine fever (ASF), with the Department of Agriculture kicking off its sentinelling program in the region. Iloilo Provincial Veterinarian IV Wendy Degillo said Tuesday that the swine dispersal started in five barangays in the municipality of Oton on Oct. 4. “Actually, in the whole Western Visayas, Oton is the first. They have 225 farmer-beneficiaries, but the delivery of piglets is by batch. Last Friday, they distributed 73 piglets for five barangays,” she said in an interview. The recipients came from Barangays Mambog, Bita Sur, Bita

Former government officials will vie for various elective positions as they submitted their certificates of candidacy (COCs) on the last day of filing in the Commission on Elections satellite offices in Northern Mindanao on Tuesday. Former 1st District representative Juliette Uy filed her COC in Misamis Oriental, aspiring to be elected governor. She will compete for the position in the 2025 midterm elections with incumbent Governor Peter Unabia, who is seeking a second term. Former Social Security commissioner and tourism undersecretary Jose Gabriel La Viña also filed his COC for mayorship in this city, his third attempt at the position.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) reported collecting PHP13.1 billion in taxes from January to August this year across its district offices in Northern Mindanao, marking a 12.3 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. BIR Revenue Region 16 Assistant Director Helen Abellanosa, speaking during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas forum Tuesday, attributed the growth mainly to voluntary tax compliance, particularly from commercial entities. “We will resort to enforcement activities if we see that voluntary compliance is not improving,” Abellanosa warned. BIR-Region 16 encompasses six Revenue District Offices — Iligan City, Cagayan de Oro City, Gingoog City, Malaybalay

The Iligan City government has earmarked PHP2.9 million to upgrade healthcare services in its barangays, focusing on modernizing facilities and expanding access to healthcare. Councilor Rosevi Queenie Belmonte said in a statement Tuesday that the funding is part of the city’s broader social development programs aimed at addressing the needs of vulnerable communities. ‘This initiative strengthens our social development efforts and ensures that we are reaching our most vulnerable citizens effectively,’ Belmonte said. The allocation will support the integration of “Smart Healthcare” technologies, including internet connectivity and improved communication systems in remote barangays, enabling telemedicine and online consultations. Additionally, barangay

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) 1 (Ilocos Region) collected about PHP17.41 billion in the first nine months of the year, 4.5 percent higher than its PHP16.9 billion goal for the period. During a Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas forum live-streamed on Tuesday, BIR-1 Director Josephine Virtucio, said they exceeded their target collection from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30 by PHP751.76 million. Top industries that boosted BIR’s collection include those involved in trading, power production and distribution, construction, and health institutions, she said. For the full year, the regional bureau has a PHP22.4 billion target. Virtucio said strategies such as improving