Day: October 28, 2025

Baguio city: Five black pigs were offered to kabunyan (supreme deity) on Saturday as this capital town celebrates Indigenous Peoples Month, but a ‘mambunong’ (native priest) in leather boots became the unexpected focus of attention during the traditional rites. Mambunong Peter Aguilba, 68, led the ceremony, chanting in the vernacular to seek blessings and protection from the heavens and the ancestors for the town’s indigenous communities. According to Philippines News Agency, the Ibaloi and Kankanaey tribes dominate this Benguet town. As the pigs were slaughtered, with sharpened wooden sticks called owik thrust directly into their hearts, Aguilba called on those

Manila: The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has pledged to enhance its oversight and monitoring capabilities after uncovering numerous overlapping and inadequately positioned flood control projects nationwide. This comes in the wake of an assessment by DENR Undersecretary Carlos Primo David, who informed the Senate Finance Committee about the evaluation of over 5,300 flood control projects from 2021 to 2024. According to Philippines News Agency, David emphasized the DENR’s commitment to collaborate with the inter-agency Sub-Committee to improve the reporting and monitoring system, enhance interagency coordination, and work towards a more integrated approach to flood and water resource

Batac city: Local government officials in this city, with assistance from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), have started promoting cashless transactions among vendors and tricycle drivers using QR Ph, the national standard for quick response or QR codes. With the program, market vendors here may now receive cashless payments via QR codes displayed on their stalls. According to Philippines News Agency, during Tuesday’s launch of the Paleng-QR Ph program at the Batac Public Market, Mayor Mark Christian Chua stated that adopting cashless transactions in public markets and local transportation opens more doors of opportunities for people. ‘Through this initiative,

Manila: The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has announced that it has issued a subpoena for missing former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, requiring his appearance before the commission. According to Philippines News Agency, ICI Executive Director Brian Keith Hosaka informed reporters that the subpoena was delivered to Co’s “last known address in Pasig and Bicol.” The subpoena, dated October 20, mandates Co’s presence at hearings scheduled for November 11 and 12. Co was initially summoned to face the commission on October 8. The former chairperson of the House Appropriations Committee is facing accusations related to receiving kickbacks

Iloilo: Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato Solidum on Tuesday encouraged Ilonggos to take earthquake and tsunami drills seriously to prevent the loss of lives and properties during an actual event. In a media interview, Solidum emphasized that earthquake scenarios are prepared as part of the drills to make people aware of the possibilities and not to scare people. According to Philippines News Agency, Solidum stated, “If you do not have those scenarios, you will be caught unaware, and you are not ready. The best option for us to do is to prepare because these are science-informed scenarios.”