Day: July 16, 2025

Bicol: The Bicol Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) has placed its emergency operations center under a “blue alert” status in anticipation of the potential effects of Tropical Depression “Crising”. Claudio Yucot, RDRRMC chairperson and regional director of the Office of Civil Defense, emphasized that under this alert status, response agencies as well as provincial, city, and municipal DRRM councils are required to closely monitor the weather disturbance’s impacts and activate their emergency operations centers around the clock. According to Philippines News Agency, Yucot instructed that any incidents related to the weather disturbance should be reported to the

Surigao city: Personnel from the Surigao del Norte Maritime Police Station (SDN-MARPSTA) on Tuesday confiscated 9,600 reams of smuggled cigarettes worth PHP4.8 million at the Lipata Ferry Terminal. In a statement Wednesday, SDN-MARPSTA reported that its unit, in a joint operation with the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office, the Bureau of Customs at Surigao Port, and local police, intercepted the contraband. According to Philippines News Agency, two individuals were arrested during the operation for transporting the cigarettes that lack health warnings and tax stamps aboard a 10-wheeler truck. The arrested individuals, whose identities were withheld, were en route from

Ilocos norte: The provincial government of Ilocos Norte has initiated a 120-day milk feeding program aimed at improving the health and nutrition of at least 350 children in the region. This effort targets children aged 3 to 5 years who are underweight and aims to enhance their overall well-being. According to Philippines News Agency, the program, launched in collaboration with the Philippine Carabao Center, not only focuses on the health of the children but also seeks to improve the economic situation of local dairy farmers. Elma Irapta, the provincial nutrition action officer, emphasized the prioritization of wasted and severely wasted

Canlaon city: The local government of Canlaon City in Negros Oriental province has shifted roles in managing evacuation camps for displaced residents affected by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon. Edna Lhou Masicampo, Canlaon City public information officer, told the Philippine News Agency on Wednesday that the city’s Incident Command System (ICS) has been demobilized effective Tuesday and has shifted to barangay-level management. According to Philippines News Agency, Masicampo said the transition is due to the role of the barangay to manage the internally displaced persons (IDPs) as stated in Section 12 of RA 10121, wherein barangays are mandated to establish

Legazpi: The new Bicol police chief, Brig. Gen. Nestor Babagay Jr., vowed to institutionalize the five-minute response time which he described as a “bold but achievable goal”. During the command turnover ceremony at the Police Regional Office-5 Grandstand in Camp Simeon Ola, Babagay said his mission aligns with Philippine National Police chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III’s commitment to swift public service. According to Philippines News Agency, upon assuming his post, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III vowed that not only would there be more cops on the streets, but quick response from them when people ask for