General

Manila: The Office of Civil Defense in Bicol (OCD-5) has directed all Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (PDRRMOs) and response cluster member agencies to raise red alert status in observance of Holy Week or Semana Santa 2025. The Red Alert status will be in effect from April 11 to 21, and aims to ensure all response cluster member agencies are prepared for immediate deployment in case any incidents occur during the observance. According to Philippines News Agency, the OCD-5 has also advised Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) response agencies to maintain close coordination with the

Baguio: The city government is eyeing the mandatory installation of bidets in toilets of public and private establishments for improved sanitation and public convenience. According to Philippines News Agency, Councilor Leandro Yangot emphasized the importance of proper sanitation as a key component of public health and safety, benefiting both residents and tourists in Baguio. In an interview on Wednesday, Yangot highlighted the necessity for toilets to be equipped with running water for flushing and handwashing, as well as bidets. Yangot has filed a proposal to the city council to implement mandatory toilet cleanliness standards not only for public restrooms but

Fort Magsaysay: Participants of the “Salaknib” exercises from the Philippine Army (PA) and the US Army Pacific (USARPAC) have conducted a series of drills that would increase interoperability between Filipino and American military units. Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala, in a media statement Wednesday, said these drills, under the first phase of the exercises, include radio communication, field artillery live fire, sling load operations using helicopters, and medical evacuation. According to Philippines News Agency, these “subject matter expert exchanges” (SMEEs), crucial in warfighting functions, took place in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija. Dema-ala also said PA and USARPAC signalers have

Antique: A hog-raisers association in Antique has been awarded PHP5 million under the Swine Artificial Insemination sa Barangay (SWAIB) Project to support sustainable livestock production. Dr. Marco Rafael Ardamil, head of the Public Health Division of the Antique Provincial Veterinary Office (ProVet), announced that the Sibalom Livestock and Poultry Raisers Association (SILPRA) Inc. received the grant through the National Livestock Program. According to Philippines News Agency, the initiative is implemented by the Agricultural Training Institute-Western Visayas in partnership with the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 6. Dr. Ardamil detailed that the SWAIB project aims to assist hog-raisers affected by

Talisay City: The provincial government here will set up an artificial intelligence (AI) education training hub at the soon-to-open new campus of the Negros Occidental Language and Information Technology Center (NOLITC) in Talisay City. In a statement on Wednesday, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said the province will pioneer the program at the new campus, and cascade it in every district as part of the innovative and transformative education agenda of Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson. ‘NOLITC will be the hub for AI training for teachers and students in the province,’ he said. According to Philippines News Agency, Ma. Cristina Orbecido,