Day: October 16, 2024

MANILA: The Philippines has repatriated 488 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their dependents from Lebanon amid heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Wednesday. During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing over PTV4, DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the government is responding to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to secure the safety and welfare of Filipinos affected by the conflict in Lebanon. “Since Day 1 ano na pumutok ang hidwaan at sigalot sa pagitan ng Israel Defense Forces at Hezbollah noong Oktubre 2023, mahigit kumulang 460 OFWs from Lebanon ang nakauwi at

MANILA: Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. warned on Wednesday that Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa’s close ties with former president Rodrigo Duterte could undermine the impartiality of the Senate investigation into the previous administration’s war on drugs. Abante, who co-chairs the House of Representatives’ Quad committee, cited Dela Rosa’s rapid rise from brigadier general to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief during Duterte’s presidency as a key concern. ‘I would think that he (Dela Rosa) would be more biased than actually balanced in that hearing,’ he said in a press conference. Dela Rosa earlier announced that the Senate would conduct its

Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) is ramping up preparations as it expects a passenger surge as the country observes All Saints and Souls Days on Nov. 1 and 2, the airport chief said on Wednesday. Julius Neri Jr., chief executive officer and general manager of MCIA, said they are expecting 50 percent more of the daily average traffic as Undas nears. Neri said the Department of Transportation’s ‘Oplan Biyaheng Ayos’ help desk will be established at the airport lobby from Oct. 31 until Nov. 5 to assist the passengers. ‘We have all of this oplan (operations plan) every year and

Four years after the Department of Education (DepEd) put up farm schools in Western Visayas, almost 8,000 junior high schools have already developed an interest in farming. This new breed of farmers is now enrolled in 31 farm schools in various school divisions in the region, DepEd Western Visayas regional director Ramir Uytico said on Wednesday. These farm schools would help the region sustain food sufficiency in the long run. ‘If we want to arrest, if we want to eradicate poverty and hunger, then support our farm schools,’ Uytico said in an interview. Dr. Elena Gonzaga, DepEd chief of the

The Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco) sought assistance from neighboring distribution utilities (DU) to restore power supply in three localities hit by massive outages since Tuesday morning. Most of the areas in Victorias City and the municipalities of E.B. Magalona and Manapla experienced a series of power interruptions for more than 24 hours after Noneco’s 15 mega volt-amperes (MVA) Victorias substation broke down around 5:50 a.m. the day before. Noneco general manager Wilbe Bilbao said in a video statement on Wednesday they connected with the distribution line of Negros Electric Power Corp. (NEPC) in Silay City for a temporary supply