General

Urdaneta city: The SM Supermalls, in partnership with the National Library of the Philippines (NLP), targets to collect 40,000 books until October this year through a book donation drive launched on Monday. According to Philippines News Agency, Urdaneta City librarian Bernardine Gravela emphasized that books would be significantly helpful in curbing misinformation and disinformation in the digital age, especially among children. Gravela stated, “It is a very big help, especially for the children. At this time and age where information easily goes out through the social media. So we need more reference materials that we could really rely on to

Caraga: Government troops recovered a dozen firearms from communist rebels in a string of operations across the Caraga Region from June 18 to July 4, a military official here said Monday. According to Philippines News Agency, the Army’s 901st Infantry Brigade (901Bde) announced that the latest firearms recovery took place on July 3 and 4 in the mountains of Jabonga, Agusan del Norte. During this operation, troops from the 29th Infantry Battalion seized seven AK-47 rifles and one M16 rifle over two days. Brig. Gen. Arsenio Sadural, the 901Bde commander, stated that the NPA rebels have little chance of regaining

Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) have introduced the ‘Benteng Bigas, Meron na sa WGP’ program to provide PHP20 per kilogram rice to over 300,000 beneficiaries of the Walang Gutom Program (WGP). According to Philippines News Agency, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and DA Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra signed a memorandum of understanding to mark the initiative’s launch during the WGP beneficiaries’ Redemption Day at Barangay 69 in Tondo, Manila. The agreement reinforces the collaborative effort to meet President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure vulnerable populations have access to affordable

Manila: The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) reaffirmed its commitment to provide full assistance and reintegration support to returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Israel, following the arrival of 25 caregivers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Sunday evening. OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan and Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac personally welcomed the repatriates, who were accompanied by Philippine Labor Attach© to Macau Hector Cruz Jr. According to Philippines News Agency, upon arrival, the group underwent medical screening by the Department of Health (DOH). “Some had health concerns, and they were promptly

Quezon city: Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III announced that 15 police officers connected to the disappearance of ‘sabungeros’ (cockfight aficionados) are now in restrictive custody at Camp Crame. The officers are under investigation for their alleged involvement in the case. According to Philippines News Agency, Gen. Torre stated that the PNP has collaborated with the National Police Commission (Napolcom) to conduct an in-depth investigation. This partnership aims to ensure transparency and impartiality, along with achieving justice. The investigation will address both criminal and administrative charges against the officers, among whom is a lieutenant colonel. Gen. Torre