Day: January 16, 2025

Zambales: China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5901, known as the “monster ship” due to its large size, remains off the coast of Zambales province, as reported by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). According to Philippines News Agency, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Commodore Jay Tarriela, stated in a post on X on Wednesday night that the BRP Gabriela Silang has been actively monitoring the movements of the Chinese vessel. Tarriela highlighted that the movements of the CCG vessel have not been “continuous or expeditious,” suggesting that it is not in the area for “innocent passage.” In response,

Dingras: Government and commercial buildings in five municipalities and a city in Ilocos Norte will be tapped to pilot smart meters in the first quarter of 2025. The smart metering system will be pilot-tested in the towns of Nueva Era, Dingras, Pagudpud, Bacarra, Badoc, and the city of Laoag, Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) acting general manager Cipriano Martinez said. According to Philippines News Agency, the National Electrification Administration administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda and Department of Energy Assistant Secretary Mario Marasigan led the ceremonial switching of the advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) Wednesday afternoon at INEC’s main office in Barangay Suyo,

Manila: Olympian Hidilyn Diaz will be enshrined in the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Hall of Fame during the San Miguel Corporation-PSA Awards Night at the Manila Hotel on Jan. 27. The 33-year-old weightlifter from Barangay Mampang in Zamboanga City delivered the country’s first Olympic gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games. According to Philippines News Agency, Diaz will share center stage with gymnast Carlos Yulo, who will be honored as Athlete of the Year in the grand celebration by the country’s oldest media organization headed by its president Nelson Beltran, sports editor of The Philippine Star. Yulo, 24, scored a

Manila: Former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson has officially withdrawn his candidacy for senator in the upcoming May 2025 national and local elections. Singson, aged 83, personally submitted his Statement of Withdrawal to the Law Department of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) located in Intramuros. According to Philippines News Agency, health concerns were the primary reason for Singson’s decision to pull out of the senatorial race, following a recent hospitalization due to pneumonia. Comelec chairperson George Garcia confirmed that Singson’s name will be removed from the official ballots, which are scheduled to be reprinted next week. “Since we will

San Jose de Buenavista: Consumers in this capital town are resorting to alternative foods like fish and vegetables amid the high price of pork. According to Philippines News Agency, San Jose de Buenavista Municipal Economic Enterprise and Development Office (MEEDO) head Darcy Bungay stated that the scarcity of pork supply resulted in soaring prices at the Dalipe Trade town, ranging from PHP400 to PHP420 per kg, up from only PHP380 to PHP400 per kg last month. ‘We are still feeling the lingering effect of the African swine fever (ASF), aside from the high demand for pork due to the festivals