Manila: The PHP178.273 billion proposed 2025 budget of the Department of Agriculture (DA) was ‘deemed submitted’ to the Senate plenary after it was approved on Monday by the Finance subcommittee chaired by Senator Cynthia Villar. Villar assured that she will convey and push to the Finance Committee the DA’s request of establishing a Rubber Institute that will cost PHP50 million, as well as the PHP150-million additional funding proposed by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. She also committed to pass the Livestock Bill to fund the request of the Bureau of Animal Industry to strengthen food safety, as well

LEGAZPI CITY – The Police Regional Office (PRO) 5 (Bicol) confiscated nearly PHP3 million worth of illegal drugs and arrested 53 drug suspects in various anti-drug operations from Oct. 14 to 20. In a report on Monday, PRO-5 director Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon said the 48 successful anti-drug operations in the six provinces of the region and one component city resulted in the seizure of 408.6540 grams of shabu worth PHP2.7 million. Camarines Norte recorded the highest amount of drugs seized with PHP1.59 million; followed by Camarines Sur –PHP825,411.20; Albay –PHP213,520; Naga City –PHP81,260; Masbate –PHP56,440; and Sorsogon –PHP2,380. Catanduanes

Manila: The country’s agricultural production will be continually boosted with the strengthened cooperation with Italy, according to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. In a statement on Monday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported an agreement on a draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Philippines and Italy during the World Food Day celebrations last Oct. 16 in Rome. ‘Italy’s agricultural machinery industry is world-class, and the Philippines can greatly benefit from this expertise as we modernize our agricultural sector,’ Tiu Laurel said. The draft partnership, which was presented during the meeting with Italian Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida, aims

Manila: The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Monday said it has entered into an agreement with a business company for the employment of former persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) as part of efforts to integrate them into society and reduce recidivism among released inmates. BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. signed the agreement with BP One Foods Inc., represented by its president, Antonio Sebastian Escalante, for employment opportunities for reformed PDLs. Under the MOA, the BuCor, through the Directorate for External Relations (DER), shall be responsible for the implementation of the Pre-release and Post-release Reintegration Programs for former PDL, which

M’LANG, North Cotabato – Authorities are pursuing a village chief and his companions involved in a shooting incident that left one person dead and another wounded early Sunday. Lt. Juaren Caang, spokesperson of the North Cotabato Police Provincial Office, identified the prime suspect as Evan Roy Macantan, village chair of Bagontapay. One of his companions, Jomer Nietes, 35, was arrested and was confined at a hospital after sustaining a gunshot wound. Caang said the shooting occurred after Macantan organized a live band concert, which he halted following a disturbance by an unidentified man. Macantan and his group confronted two civilians-later

Manila: The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday it has activated border control measures in the Zamboanga Peninsula and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao as it continues to search for an American national who was kidnapped in Zamboanga del Norte. In a press conference at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Monday, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said there is no indication yet that the culprits and the victim, 26-year-old Elliot Eastman, have already left the province. ‘So far there is no indication that they already crossed either Basilan or Sulu but just the same, we are