Day: August 21, 2025

Legazpi city: The Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay para sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program is not limited to street cleaning alone but also offers other job opportunities. According to Philippines News Agency, DOLE-Bicol Director Imelda Gatinao highlighted that through collaboration with other government agencies, the program is enhanced and resources are maximized. “The convergence project changes the public perception that TUPAD is solely focused on street cleaning; it also plays a significant role in employment generation, sustainable development goals, and overall economic growth,” she said. The partnerships include the Department of Agriculture on training programs and

Manila: The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) have formally rolled out a nationwide program granting 50-percent fare discounts for students on the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) train systems. In a news release on Thursday, the DepEd said the initiative will run until 2028, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ease education-related expenses. According to Philippines News Agency, the fare discount, which took effect in June 2025, applies to students from kindergarten to graduate school, including those in the Alternative Learning System (ALS) and Special Education (SPED)

Leyte: The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) has expressed support for the community-led restoration efforts of the Leyte Sab-a Basin Peatland (LSBP), the second largest peatland in the Philippines. In a phone interview on Thursday, DEPDev Eastern Visayas director Meylene Rosales said they met this week with officials of the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) and Visayas State University (VSU) to discuss the four-year initiative of local natural environment stewardship in LSBP. According to Philippines News Agency, Rosales stated, “We pledged full support, citing the project’s alignment with the region’s thrusts on climate action and disaster resilience.

Butuan city: The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) has approved a measure that institutionalizes a “Car-free Sunday” policy in this city. SP Ordinance No. 17-019-2025, approved during a regular session on Tuesday, designates sections of major thoroughfares that will be closed to vehicles every Sunday to promote sustainable mobility and green urbanism. According to Philippines News Agency, the initiative aims to reclaim urban streets as safe, inclusive, and dynamic public spaces, promoting walking, cycling, running, and other forms of active recreation. The ordinance aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 11, which seeks to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

Iloilo city: A three-digit hotline is being pushed for this city to ensure faster response during emergencies. In an interview on Thursday, Vice Mayor Lady Julie Grace Baronda said that based on her research, offices within the city government and relevant government agencies have their own hotline numbers, which makes it quite difficult to coordinate with agencies during emergencies or for other concerns. According to Philippines News Agency, “With this, we hope to have a unified number for faster response,” Baronda, who authored the proposed ordinance for the hotline numbers, said. She noted that other cities and countries have emergency