Day: July 15, 2025

Cotabato city: The education minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will remain a regional cabinet member after interim BARMM Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua declined his courtesy resignation. Chief Minister Macacua advised Minister Mohagher Iqbal of the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) to continue serving the region’s education sector. According to Philippines News Agency, Macacua issued a memorandum on July 14, made public on Tuesday, instructing Iqbal to continue reporting for work and fulfilling his usual duties and responsibilities as minister. This decision comes after Macacua’s earlier directive on June 23, requiring all regional

Abuyog: A jackfruit processing center will rise in Abuyog, Leyte, to add value to jackfruit, one of the champion commodities of the Eastern Visayas region. Jorge Alvero, Jr., chairperson of Abuyog Jackfruit and Tropical Fruits Producers, Inc., the group tasked to manage the project, on Tuesday said the facility will be completed by December 2025 or early January 2026. According to Philippines News Agency, the PHP6-million project funded by the Department of Agriculture (DA) will benefit jackfruit farmers in Abuyog and nearby towns. Key officials led the groundbreaking on July 10 at the New Pilar Community, Tinalian village in Abuyog.

Butuan city: The Department of Agriculture in Caraga Region (DA-13) has successfully disbursed over PHP28.4 million worth of fertilizer discount vouchers to rice farmers across four of Caraga’s five provinces, supporting the agricultural community during the second cropping season. These disbursements took place from June to July this year, benefiting numerous farming communities in the region. According to Philippines News Agency, the DA-13 recorded one distribution activity in June for Surigao del Sur’s rice farmers and conducted three separate releases in the first two weeks of July. The vouchers are intended to cover a range of agricultural inputs, including PHP18.2

Negros occidental: The Negros Occidental provincial government has expanded its transformative mediation training program to better equip members of the Lupon ng Tagapamayapa in resolving conflicts in the barangays. According to Philippines News Agency, from March to July this year, 187 Lupon members and barangay leaders from six local government units (LGUs) have been trained through the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) in cooperation with the province’s Liga ng mga Barangay. Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II stated that the expanded program aims to strengthen local governance by empowering Lupon members and other barangay leaders through appropriate interventions. A total

Eastern visayas: The government’s intensified anti-insurgency drive has led to the neutralization of 45 New People’s Army (NPA) combatants in Eastern Visayas during the first six months of 2025, the Philippine Army (PA) reported Tuesday. According to Philippines News Agency, the PA’s 8th Infantry Division (ID) said that of the 45 neutralized armed rebels, 17 were killed in armed encounters with government troops, one was captured, and 27 voluntarily surrendered to authorities. Maj. Gen. Adonis Ariel Orio, commander of the Army’s 8th ID, said the surrender of several NPA fighters from January to June this year is an indication of