General

Manila: The Commission on Elections in the Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) has secured the transmission devices to be used in the May 12 midterm elections following Tuesday’s eruption of Mt. Kanlaon. In an interview, Comelec-NIR director Lionel Marco Castillano said these transmission devices play a critical role in the conduct of the elections. “These transmission devices will connect real-time the voting results from the automated counting machines to the servers, particularly in areas without signal,” Castillano said. According to Philippines News Agency, the first batch of transmission devices for the Negros provinces arrived on Monday and would soon be delivered

Tashkent: Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada called on fellow lawmakers across the world to support the Philippines’ bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for 2027-2028. The country previously held a non-permanent seat on the UNSC in 1957, 1963, 1980-1981, and 2004-2005. According to Philippines News Agency, Estrada made his plea during the ASEAN+3 meeting at the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He emphasized the Philippines’ dedication to peaceful dispute resolution, multilateral cooperation, and regional stability. Estrada highlighted the nation’s legacy as the first Asian republic and a

Legazpi City: The Department of Health in Bicol (DOH-5) on Tuesday provided tips for the public to ensure a healthy and safe observance of the Holy Week and the summer vacation (SumVac) in the region. According to Philippines News Agency, the DOH-5 urged the public to follow wellness and safety guidelines during the upcoming “Semana Santa,” including using an umbrella if sun exposure is unavoidable and wearing comfortable clothing while participating in the Visita Iglesia and Stations of the Cross. To avoid dehydration, individuals were encouraged to drink adequate amounts of clean water and consume food to prevent dizziness caused

Ilocos Norte: The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has called on private hospitals in Ilocos Norte to adopt its no balance billing (NBB) policy. This initiative aims to ensure that all patients, regardless of their financial status, have equitable access to healthcare services. According to Philippines News Agency, Eduardo Dularte, the chief social insurance officer of PhilHealth in Ilocos Norte, emphasized in a recent media interview that the NBB policy is designed to accommodate patients with both ordinary and serious illnesses. Out of the 13 private hospitals in the region, eight have already expressed their intent to sign a memorandum

San Diego: Charly Suarez is determined to beat WBO super-featherweight champion Emmanuel Navarrete of Mexico at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California on May 10. “It should be convincing,” the 36-year-old Suarez said on his first crack at a world title. According to Philippines News Agency, Suarez, who competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics, secured a silver medal at the 2014 Asian Games and won three gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games. “I didn’t win a medal at the Olympics, so what I didn’t achieve there, I’ll get here. I won’t let myself not get it (title),” Suarez