General

Agusan del norte: Agusan del Norte’s lone district Representative Dale Corvera is actively pursuing the transformation of the Northern Mindanao School of Fisheries (NMSF) in Buenavista town into a polytechnic institution. In a statement on Monday, Corvera announced that he has filed House Bill (HB) No. 1007, which he described as a rehash of HB No. 11361. The earlier bill was filed and approved on the third and final reading on June 4, 2025, during the 19th Congress, but failed to become law due to time constraints. According to Philippines News Agency, Corvera emphasized that converting NMSF into the Northern

Palo: Governors in Eastern Visayas have welcomed the inclusion of the region in the National Fiber Backbone (NFB) Phases 2 and 3, as this will unlock economic opportunities in poor communities. Eastern Samar Governor Ralph Vincent Evardone said the project allows remote villages to be connected through the internet. ‘This will support our objective to bring the services of the provincial capitol to each barangay. Hosting the fiber backbone is very timely, with many people in our province relying on connectivity for their work, studies, and communication with others,’ Evardone told reporters. According to Philippines News Agency, of the 597

Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) has reassured the public regarding the impact of heavy rains as the planting season for palay (unhusked rice) begins. According to Philippines News Agency, DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa stated that the current rains are advantageous for rice fields as they help flood the areas required for planting. De Mesa mentioned in an interview that there is no indication of widespread flooding, and emphasized the necessity of flooding the fields during the planting phase. He further explained that the heavy rains are also beneficial for raising water levels in dams, which play

Manila: The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will further intensify its operations against ‘colorum’ or unregistered vehicles after 252 vehicles were apprehended in June. According to Philippines News Agency, LTO Executive Director Greg Pua stated there has been positive feedback from the LTO’s anti-colorum drive, especially after impounding unregistered vehicles and prosecuting drivers and operators. Pua explained that this initiative could either be deterring operators from engaging in illegal activities or prompting them to find ways to avoid arrest. A recent LTO memorandum has strengthened the anti-colorum campaign by requiring a court order for the release of impounded vehicles, even after

Cotabato city: Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. emphasized the importance of consistently involving indigenous peoples (IPs) in the peace and development process. “When we say all Filipinos, we must always include our indigenous peoples and their communities,” he stated, noting that their rich history and culture form the very foundations of the national identity. According to Philippines News Agency, a consultative meeting was held on July 3 at Camp Siongco in Cotabato City to address the welfare and protect the rights of Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples (NMIPs) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous