General

Manila: Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles Brown on Tuesday expressed gratitude to Filipinos for praying for Pope Francis during his hospitalization in the past months until his death on Monday. In his message at the conclusion of the Requiem Mass for the Holy Father that he concelebrated with Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula at the Manila Cathedral, the Vatican’s envoy acknowledged the support of Filipino faithful during the days the pontiff was in the hospital. According to Philippines News Agency, Archbishop Brown addressed the congregation, thanking them for their prayers for the Holy Father, particularly over the last

Butuan: The Diocese of Butuan joined the mourning for Pope Francis on Monday, calling on the faithful to unite in solidarity with the global Catholic community to honor the late head of the Church. According to Philippines News Agency, Bishop Cosme Damian Almedilla issued an instruction on Monday afternoon, directing all parishes within the diocese to ring their church bells every evening at 8 p.m. for two minutes. ‘This period is a time for solemn reflection and communal prayer, honoring the life and dedicated service of our beloved Pope Francis,’ the diocese stated. The diocese also urged the faithful throughout

Manila: The Land Transportation Office (LTO) 6 (Western Visayas) has issued show cause orders (SCOs) to five drivers and a jeepney operator for violations reported during the Holy Week. The announcement was made on Tuesday, highlighting the agency’s commitment to enforcing traffic regulations. According to Philippines News Agency, the SCOs were directed at Robert Alemania, the driver of a jeepney involved in an incident on Black Saturday, and the operator, Maria Fe Gayamo. LTO records indicate that the private jeepney was overloaded with 70 passengers, with some individuals positioned on top of the vehicle and others standing on the stepboard.

Pinili: The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is taking significant steps to transform farmers into entrepreneurs through its enhanced farm business school (FBS), which utilizes mixed participatory adult learning methodologies. This innovative approach aims to make the learning experience more engaging for selected beneficiaries. According to Philippines News Agency, the program, which commenced on Monday, has enrolled at least 30 farmers from the Upon Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Pinili, Ilocos Norte. The course, running from April to August, is designed to enhance the participants’ skills and unlock their potential in agri-business. Chief agrarian reform officer Rommel Aquino explained that the initiative,

Misamis Oriental: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has inaugurated the PHP350-million Solving Unemployment through Rural Industrialization, Sustainable and Enterprise Integrated Coconut Processing Facility (SUnRISE-ICPF), a significant initiative aimed at transforming the coconut industry in Misamis Oriental province. According to Philippines News Agency, the new facility is a collaborative effort between the public and private sectors, designed to benefit over 66,000 coconut farmers directly. The initiative seeks to enhance the value of coconut products beyond traditional copra, with the President highlighting its potential to raise the farmgate price of coconuts from the current PHP8 to PHP10 per kilo to PHP16 to