General

Bicol: The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol (DSWD-5) has initiated the prepositioning of family food packs in several warehouses across the region as part of its contingency plan for the wet season. According to Philippines News Agency, Claudio Villareal, chief of the DSWD-5’s Disaster Response Management Division, stated that the amount of Family Food Packs (FFPs) being prepared this year has been increased significantly. Previously, the stockpile comprised around 50,000 FFPs, but now it ranges from 150,000 to 200,000. The agency is also exploring options to rent additional warehouses or establish agreements for standby stockpiles to further

Manila: Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma on Tuesday vowed to “repay” President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for retaining him as head of the department by performing his duties well. “The only way to repay and do justice to this magnanimity is by committing and seeing to it that the DOLE performs well and does its share and immensely contribute to the realization of the President’s vision of a Bagong Pilipinas,” Laguesma said in a statement. According to Philippines News Agency, the DOLE chief issued the statement after Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin announced that Marcos has retained

Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is considering conducting voter registration activities at night to encourage more Filipinos to register for the Dec. 1 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE). According to Philippines News Agency, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia announced on Tuesday that the plan is part of the enhancement of the Register Anywhere Program (RAP) scheduled from July 1 to 11. “We will have an enhanced version [of the RAP]. Before, we have voter registration during the day. Now, the Register Anywhere Program will also happen during nighttime,” Garcia said in an interview. Garcia mentioned that they are looking

Pasay: Authorities arrested the consignee of a parcel containing shabu worth PHP6.8 million, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported Tuesday. According to Philippines News Agency, suspect ‘Ruth’, 28, claimed the parcel at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City on Monday, claiming she was unaware that it contained illegal drugs. The package from Ontario, Canada was declared as ‘ladies’ wear and bags.’ Upon inspection, authorities discovered several self-sealing transparent plastic bags wrapped in foil and cling wrap, all containing approximately 1 kilogram of suspected shabu. Also confiscated were a mobile phone, a notice card, and several identification cards,

Davao City: The Department of Agriculture in Davao Region (DA-11) is focusing on improving yields and enhancing disease resistance to boost the cacao industry. According to Philippines News Agency, the initiative is part of the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), which provides improved cacao seedlings and essential farm inputs to local farmers, stated DA-11 technical director Marie Ann Constantino. ‘The DA is also actively working to build resilience against climate risks by distributing farm machinery and constructing vital irrigation systems,’ Constantino said in a statement on Tuesday. She added that the DA is improving training programs designed to enhance