Day: May 29, 2025

Tacloban: The city council here declared a state of emergency on Thursday as transport of goods and medical supplies between Leyte and Samar provinces has been disrupted due to the limited access of San Juanico Bridge. According to Philippines News Agency, citing Section 16 of the Local Government Code and relevant national disaster protocols, the city government, in a statement, said a state of emergency can be declared when public safety is at risk or when immediate action is needed to respond to a crisis or disruption of essential services. ‘With restricted access to San Juanico, the main gateway in

Basey: Amid the San Juanico Bridge crisis, the contractor tasked to improve the Amandayehan Port in Basey, Samar is working double-time to make the wharf functional by next week. Engineer Boy Achilles Gabica of Aqualine Construction Corp. said they have been working day and night this week to upgrade the fish port into a roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) port. “We are doing our best to complete the works within 10 days. We are almost done with our backfilling but we need more time to install steel sheet piles to prevent erosion,” he said in an interview on Thursday. According to Philippines

Iloilo City: Over 200 drivers in Iloilo have undergone a surprise random drug test, resulting in one tricycle driver testing positive for illegal drug use. The initiative was conducted by the Land Transportation Office Region 6 (LTO-6), in cooperation with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). According to Philippines News Agency, the random drug test was executed at the Ungka and Tagbak terminals in Iloilo City, involving 214 drivers who submitted their urine samples. LTO-6 assistant regional director Jeck Conlu stated that the driver who tested positive will have their specimen

Digos City: The majestic Mt. Apo, the highest peak in the Philippines, will temporarily close its trails to trekkers from June to August for its annual rehabilitation and preservation, the Digos City Tourism Office (DCTO) said Thursday. In an online post, the DCTO said the annual closure coincides with the mating season of Mt. Apo’s diverse fauna, allowing the mountain to rejuvenate and recover naturally. According to Philippines News Agency, this crucial conservation effort ensures the protection of its rich biodiversity and delicate ecosystem, helping preserve the natural wonders of Mt. Apo for generations to come. The DCTO also assured

San Fernando: Department of Health (DOH) Ilocos Region director Paula Paz Sydiongco has urged cancer patients to utilize the cancer assistance fund (CAF) offered by the national government. According to Philippines News Agency, the CAF provides financial services not covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and those only partially covered by the Malasakit Program. Patients are required to submit necessary documents such as prescriptions, treatment protocols, and medical abstracts for evaluation and approval before accessing the services. CAF is accessible at the Region 1 Medical Center, Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center in San Fernando, La Union, and