Day: November 18, 2025

Baguio city: The Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-Cordillera Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (DRRMC) has called on residents in the region to make use of transistor radios as an effective tool for information dissemination during calamities, especially in remote areas. According to Philippines News Agency, Jose Ignacio Valera, Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) officer of OCD-CAR, emphasized the importance of transistor radios in a media interview aired over a local radio station. Valera pointed out the challenges in conveying crucial safety information to all residents during calamities, particularly when conventional communication methods like cellular phones and televisions become unreliable due

Quezon city: The Quezon City (QC) government is shifting towards science-based and long-term sustainable solutions to curb the worsening flood problems. At the opening of the QC Flood Summit 2025, Mayor Joy Belmonte emphasized that perennial flooding has become a significant source of ‘collective trauma’ for many, especially families residing in flood-prone areas. According to Philippines News Agency, Mayor Belmonte noted that in 2024, more than 22,000 families were subjected to preemptive or forced evacuations due to storms. She highlighted the shared anxiety within the city, as floodwaters often paralyze roads, posing substantial risks to constantly flooded communities. Belmonte stressed

Leyte: The deaths of a squad leader and two other members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in a clash with government troops in Barangay Pange, Jaro, Leyte, on Monday mark a major setback for the insurgent group’s operations on Leyte Island. Brig. Gen. Pompeyo Jason Almagro, commander of the Philippine Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade, said in a phone interview on Tuesday that the NPA’s Island Committee Levox has been significantly weakened following the encounter. With the loss of three fighters from Squad 2, the unit now has only three members left, while Squad 1 retains 12. According to Philippines

Manila: Agusan del Norte’s lone House representative has filed a bill to transform the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) into a full department to centralize the country’s technical-vocational education system. In an interview on Tuesday, Rep. Dale Corvera shared insights into House Bill No. 6071, which seeks to establish the Department of Technical Education, Training and Certification (DTET), a measure he filed on Monday. According to Philippines News Agency, Rep. Corvera emphasized that the current setup hinders the development of a skilled workforce capable of competing in global markets. The proposed department aims to unify technical education governance,

Marihatag: Army troops recovered two anti-personnel mines planted near a civilian foot trail in Surigao del Sur, military officials reported Tuesday. According to Philippines News Agency, the 75th Infantry Battalion discovered the explosives during a patrol on November 15 in Barangay San Pedro, Marihatag town. Lt. Col. Earl Pardillo, the battalion commander, condemned the use of the mines, labeling it as a ‘grave violation of International Humanitarian Law.’ Pardillo emphasized the potential danger to civilians, stating, ‘Even children could have been the victims,’ as the trail is regularly used by residents. The recovered explosives are now in secure custody for