Day: May 1, 2025

Bacolod City: The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) have forged a partnership to ensure the safe conduct of the May 12 national and local elections in local government units (LGUs) affected by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Island. The collaboration was formalized in a memorandum of agreement signed between OCD Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno and Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia in a ceremony held at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall Thursday afternoon. According to Philippines News Agency, the agreement emphasizes the commitment of both organizations to facilitate voting despite the challenges posed by

Kabankalan City: A total of 111 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, have been relieved of debts amounting to PHP15.378 million under the Republic Act (RA) 11953 or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act. The certificates of condonation with the release of mortgage (CoCRoMs) were distributed to identified farmers under the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Negros Occidental 2 (South) in a ceremony held on Tuesday led by Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Arnulfo Figueroa, District Manager Elma Popioco, and City Assessor Roldan Dunque. According to Philippines News Agency, Figueroa emphasized the importance of the land awarded

Pasay City: The state-run Social Security System (SSS) announced its decision to reduce interest rates for salary and calamity loans, expand the pension loan program to include surviving spouse pensioners, and implement a micro-credit loan facility through third-party providers. These enhancements are part of a broader initiative to recognize the contributions of Filipino workers, as highlighted by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during his Labor Day message at the SMX Convention Center. According to Philippines News Agency, SSS’s move to reduce interest rates will benefit members with good credit quality who have not availed of penalty condonation in the past

New Clark City: University of the Philippines’ Juliana Talaro defended the women’s 10,000-meter walk title Thursday in the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships at the New Clark City Athletic Stadium here. The 22-year-old from Pinagbuhatan, Pasig clocked 55 minutes and 57.21 seconds to claim her third straight title. According to Philippines News Agency, University of Santo Tomas’ Azeneth Serat finished second in 56:51.95, followed by University of the East’s Sep Blessee Placido, who completed the race in 57:59.90. “I really want to defend the title, I’m glad I did it,” said Talaro, who competed in the 20,000-meter walk race at the

La Carlota: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has assured displaced voters near Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Occidental that they will still be able to cast their votes in the upcoming May 12 midterm elections. Comelec Chairperson George Garcia emphasized that voters affected by the volcano’s eruption will not face disenfranchisement. According to Philippines News Agency, Garcia stated that the Comelec is committed to holding elections even for a small number of voters and plans to set up polling precincts within evacuation centers to facilitate voting for displaced individuals. This announcement was made after Garcia’s visit to the La Carlota Evacuation