General

Ilocos norte: Electricity rates in Ilocos Norte province have increased this month by more than PHP1 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), according to the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC). The total unbundle residential rate for July will be at PHP11.61/kWh, compared to the PHP9.99 in June, reflecting a difference of PHP1.62. According to Philippines News Agency, in a press conference at the INEC main branch in Dingras town on Wednesday, the firm’s acting general manager, Cipriano Martinez III, apologized to member-consumer-owners (MCOs) for the increase in rates despite the lower consumption this rainy season. He attributed the increase to the total accumulated

Dumaguete: The Negros Oriental provincial government, through the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO), has implemented its Gulay at Palaisdaan Alay sa Kabataan or GPAK program in 85 public schools since its inception over two decades ago. According to Philippines News Agency, PAO chief Emmanuel Caduyac stated at a Kapihan sa PIA forum that the GPAK program not only benefits schools but also extends to communities, including students and their parents, by encouraging simple and sustainable agricultural practices at home. The program includes a contest among schools to motivate them to sustain their projects on campus, with evaluations based on the physical

Manila: Senator Risa Hontiveros has initiated cyber libel proceedings at the Department of Justice against seven individuals linked to a viral video that allegedly accuses her of coercing a witness into providing false testimonies. According to Philippines News Agency, the respondents named in the complaint include lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, Byron Cristobal alias Banat By, Jeffrey ‘Ka Eric’ Celiz, Krizette ‘Kiffy’ Chu, Jose ‘Jay’ Sonza, and Alex Destor alias Tio Moreno. Additionally, former Senate witness Michael Maurilio is cited in the complaint for claiming in the viral video that Hontiveros bribed him to testify against former president Rodrigo Duterte, Vice President

Manila: Rising temperatures linked to climate change are slashing milk production globally, even on high-tech farms equipped with cooling systems, a new international study has found. Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University, and the University of Chicago revealed that just one day of extreme heat can reduce a cow’s milk output by up to 10 percent, with effects lingering for more than a week. According to Philippines News Agency, despite widespread use of fans and water sprays, these cooling methods only partially mitigate the damage, signaling the urgent need for more effective solutions. ‘Climate change will

Pasig city: The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) is currently studying how the government could keep rice prices affordable while also safeguarding the welfare of farmers, a DEPDev official said. “The issue is, you want to maintain low and stable inflation, especially rice prices, but at the same time, you also want to safeguard the farmers. So we are looking for that win-win solution,” DEPDev Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon said at the sidelines of the Communication and Advocacy Workshop on Economic and Financial Literacy held in Pasig City on Wednesday. According to Philippines News Agency, latest data showed that