Day: July 23, 2025

Davao occidental: Some 200 minimum wage earners (MWEs) in Davao Occidental benefited Wednesday from the launch of the government’s PHP20 per kg. subsidized rice program, dubbed ‘Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na.’ The event, held in Malita town, aims to soften the impact of inflation and rising commodity prices. According to Philippines News Agency, during the program, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 11 Provincial Head Paul Cruz emphasized that the ‘BBM Na’ program for MWEs is a flagship initiative of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Each of the 200 workers from the Malita Rural Workers Agrarian Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative

Manila: As the country braces for heavy rains due to Tropical Storm Dante, Tropical Depression Emong, and the enhanced southwest monsoon or habagat, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) on Wednesday urged hazard-risk local government units (LGUs) across the country to identify danger zones and act swiftly to protect lives. The DENR-MGB issued a report on the list of identified flood and rain-induced landslide (RIL) prone barangays due to Dante, Emong, and the habagat, valid until 8 a.m. on Friday. According to Philippines News Agency, the report, based on updated rainfall forecasts from the Philippine

Manila: The Western Visayas Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is maintaining the red alert status of its operations center in preparation for Tropical Storms Dante and Emong and the southwest monsoon. In an interview on Wednesday, Office of Civil Defense in Western Visayas (OCD-6) spokesperson Maria Cristina Mayor said the red alert status, hoisted since Severe Tropical Storm Crising, mandates uniformed agencies to deploy their personnel and strengthen monitoring and coordination. According to Philippines News Agency, the OCD has been conducting Pre-Disaster Risk Assessments (PDRA) to identify and address potential challenges posed by the two weather disturbances within

Leyte: 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Wednesday urged urgent action to strengthen the Free Higher Education Law amid soaring dropout rates in state colleges and universities (SUCs). Romualdez made the call after data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) showed that the national dropout rate in the school year 2023 to 2024 reached 39 percent. According to Philippines News Agency, the dropout rate in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) was as high as 93.4 percent; Central Visayas reported 60.7 percent; Zamboanga Peninsula – 59.5 percent; Cordillera – 54.9 percent; Metro Manila –

Manila: The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has been prioritizing fuel tankers in its ‘Libreng Sakay’ (free trip) program to facilitate the crossing of the San Juanico Strait between this city and Amandayehan Port in Basey, Samar, amid the current bridge crisis. According to Philippines News Agency, as of July 21, the government-sponsored free roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) trip has successfully transported 130 fuel tankers from Leyte Island to Samar Island since the program’s launch on June 18, 2025. This initiative supports the continued operations of small power utilities and other vital services, especially amid the transport challenges brought about by