General

Cebu: Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia must be treated ‘fairly’ while the legal issues concerning the suspension order against her are not yet resolved, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Thursday. The Office of the Ombudsman ordered Garcia’s preventive suspension for six months without pay over alleged grave abuse of authority, in connection with the issuance of a special permit to Shalom Construction Inc. in May 2024 without mandatory clearances from relevant government agencies. According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos stated, “I have been made aware of the preventive suspension issued against Governor Gwendolyn Garcia of Cebu,” in a statement posted

Narra: The Narra District Jail (NDJ) has launched the ‘Gulayan ng Pag-Asa’ Livelihood Program, a hydroponics-based farming initiative aimed at providing persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) with skills in sustainable agriculture. According to Philippines News Agency, the project is a collaboration between NDJ and the Rotaract Club of Puerto Princesa City. It began with financial support and training in hydroponic farming techniques, enabling inmates to cultivate lettuce seedlings within the facility. NDJ acting warden, Senior Jail Officer 2 Marlon Lolong, emphasized the program’s potential to aid in the rehabilitation of inmates. ‘This initiative aligns with our broader efforts to promote

Ilocos Norte: Over 70 job seekers successfully found employment during the 123rd Labor Day celebration job fair held at Robinsons Place Ilocos. The event took place on Thursday and featured 43 local employers offering 1,719 job vacancies. According to Philippines News Agency, Ailyn Joy Ambrocio, a 17-year-old beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) from Barangay Paguludan-Salindeg, Currimao, was among the 73 individuals hired on the spot by 4 p.m. Ambrocio expressed her happiness in securing a food service crew position on her first attempt at job hunting. In addition to the PHP5,000 assistance provided by the Department of

Manila: The Department of Health (DOH) has announced that hospitals across the nation are on ‘code white’ alert for Labor Day and will remain so until May 2. This measure ensures readiness for any health-related emergencies during this period. According to Philippines News Agency, the activation of a code white alert signifies that hospitals will engage their Operations Centers (OPCENs) to maintain communication and coordination with regional and Central DOH OPCENs. This protocol is part of a directive issued by President Marcos to safeguard the health of citizens during the Labor Day observance, as confirmed by Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa.

Makati City: The country’s largest clean energy provider, First Gen Corp., is currently in negotiations to supply at least 180 megawatts of power to data centers in the Philippines, according to First Gen Energy Solutions, Inc. president and chief operating officer, Carlos Lorenzo Vega. According to Philippines News Agency, Vega revealed in an interview that the company already provides 17.4 MW of clean power to 11 data center facilities across the country. He highlighted the growing demand for renewable energy sources among data centers, which operate continuously and are eager to reduce their carbon footprint. Vega pointed out the challenges