Day: January 2, 2025

LEGAZPI CITY: The Police Regional Office (PRO) 5 in Bicol has heightened security protocols across its municipalities, focusing on coastal areas following the discovery of a Chinese submarine drone off the coast of Masbate. The underwater device, identified as a Chinese navigation and communication system, was found in the waters of Barangay Iniwaran, San Pascual, Masbate. According to Philippines News Agency, PRO-5 Director Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon confirmed that the object, marked HY-119, was discovered by local fishermen on December 30, 2024. The fishermen handed over the device to local authorities, prompting the deployment of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) personnel

CEBU: The Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7) has reported 93 fireworks-related injuries between December 21, 2024, and January 2, 2025. This data, released on Thursday, highlights the region’s challenges during the holiday season, as celebrations led to a significant number of injuries. According to Philippines News Agency, 19 of these cases were documented following the New Year’s festivities. The data was gathered from 34 hospitals, comprising two sentinel and 32 non-sentinel facilities across the region. The DOH-7 figures notably surpass those reported by the Police Regional Office-7 (PRO-7), which recorded 14 fireworks-related incidents during the same timeframe. Additionally,

CAGAYAN DE ORO: More than 75,000 kilograms of waste were collected in Cagayan de Oro following this year’s New Year celebrations, marking a notable decrease in the volume of waste compared to previous years. This effective waste management was attributed to proactive measures implemented by local authorities and waste management firms. According to Philippines News Agency, Jermie Danuco, operations manager of Tencil, a third-party waste collection firm, stated in a radio interview that the collected waste originated from five public markets in the city. Danuco emphasized that the reduction in waste volume was a result of deploying collection trucks as

BACALOD: The city government of Bacolod is set to begin issuing identification cards to members of accredited sectoral associations starting January, aiming to facilitate easier access to government services and assistance. The initiative is part of an effort to create a comprehensive database to verify membership and streamline aid distribution. According to Philippines News Agency, the Management Information Technology and Computer Services is currently encoding individual information to build this database. City Administrator Lucille Gelvolea stated that the initial issuance of sectoral IDs will be prioritized for those belonging to accredited associations. This measure is expected to simplify the process

BICOL: The Department of Agrarian Reform in Bicol (DAR-5) has effectively distributed nearly 21,000 land titles and Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROM) to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) across the region in 2024. This effort aims to support farmers by providing them with the necessary documents to enhance their farming operations and improve their livelihoods. According to Philippines News Agency, DAR-5 Director Reuben Theodore Sindac revealed that the department issued 20,986 titles and COCROMs to 17,961 ARBs, covering a total of 28,658.96 hectares of land. Sindac emphasized the significance of 2024 in achieving the department’s goals of empowering