Day: October 28, 2024

MANILA – The United States Department is providing PHP450 million (USD8 million) in new funding to support the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). The funds will aid in modernizing the PCG infrastructure enhancement, training program development, resource acquisition and management planning. The funding was announced during a third Maritime Dialogue on Oct. 24 where the Philippines and the US discussed shared commitment to strengthening compliance with international law, as reflected in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The dialogue also addressed climate change impacts, illegal fishing and the importance of continued coordination on maritime law enforcement.

ILOILO CITY – The National Dairy Authority (NDA) aims to increase the country’s milk sufficiency to 2.5 percent in 2025 from the current 1 percent, and bring it closer to 5 percent sufficiency with milk production of 80 million liters by 2028. ‘The Department of Agriculture, through the NDA, is hell-bent on doubling the milk sufficiency of the country by next year. While this increase may seem modest, it represents a groundbreaking achievement, the first substantial progress in dairy sufficiency in many years, if ever, occurring under the Marcos Jr. administration,’ NDA Administrator lawyer Marcus Antonios Andaya said in his

LEGAZPI CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 5 (Bicol) has provided nearly PHP150 million worth of relief assistance to the families affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) in the region as of Monday morning. In a report, DSWD-5 disaster response management division information officer Carl James Cabarles said distributions of family food packs and non-food items are being conducted for the disaster victims. He said DSWD has provided PHP147.4 million in humanitarian aid to the hard-hit communities, displaced families, and stranded passengers across various regional ports. “The assistance includes distributing family food packs

BAGUIO CITY – The Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) said power has been ‘fully restored’ in Baguio and Benguet province in the aftermath of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami). In a message to the Philippine News Agency, Beneco Community Relations officer Laarni Ilagan, however, said their operations division is still on red alert amid the impending effects of Severe Tropical Storm Leon (international name Kong-rey) Meanwhile, Beneco’s Network Services Department system planning and design engineer Sheraine Mae Willy, in a press release, said there was no major power outage in this city during the onslaught of Kristine. She said

CEBU CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has so far disbursed PHP4.5 million worth of livelihood assistance package to 15 Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations (SLPA), a social welfare official said on Monday. Shalaine Marie Lucero, DSWD-7 regional director, said the amount was given to PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn Program (PAMANA)-identified conflict-affected or conflict-vulnerable areas in Central Visayas. Lucero said 50 insurgent returnees from these 15 SLPAs in villages affected or vulnerable to insurgencies as identified through Executive Order (EO) 70 received PHP4.5 million in aid. EO70 provides for the creation of a national task force tasked