General

Muntinlupa City: The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have signed an agreement to formally secure the land boundaries of Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF) in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. According to Philippines News Agency, the memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed by BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. and DENR-Mimaropa officer-in-charge Regional Executive Director Felix Mirasol Jr. during ceremonies at the BuCor headquarters in Muntinlupa City. In a statement, Catapang emphasized the importance of formalizing land ownership to ensure proper classification and management of the 29,000-hectare BuCor property. He stated,

Manila: Finance Secretary Ralph Recto asserted on Thursday that the redirection of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) excess funds to the national treasury is “legal, moral, and economically sound.” During the fifth oral argument at the Supreme Court concerning the consolidated petitions challenging the constitutionality of transferring PHP89.9 billion in unused funds, Recto emphasized the necessity and legality of this move. According to Philippines News Agency, Recto highlighted the endorsement of the policy by several government bodies, including the Office of the Solicitor General, the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel, the Governance Commission for GOCCs, and the Commission on

Baguio: The City Veterinary and Agriculture Office (CVAO) here reported a significant increase in the number of residents engaging in urban agriculture, specifically rooftop and backyard food production, which is seen as a positive step towards enhancing the country’s food sustainability. According to Philippines News Agency, CVAO head Dr. Silardo Bested shared in a report to the city government that the number of ‘Gulayan sa Paaralan’ (school vegetable gardens) has grown to 94 from the initially targeted 40, while the number of home gardens has reached 1,757. Seedling distribution has also seen a significant increase, reaching 6,121, surpassing the initial

Legazpi: The Legazpi city government has allocated PHP10 million for the establishment of a sports academy to enhance training facilities for athletes. In an interview on Thursday, Mayor Alfredo Garbin said the budget will be used to construct a multipurpose building to house sports equipment and serve as a training facility. According to Philippines News Agency, the sports academy will focus on creating a structure and facility that supports athletes’ training needs. Mayor Garbin emphasized that providing the best environment is essential for athletes to excel in their respective fields. He highlighted the importance of having facilities available throughout the

Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has expressed its readiness to respond to a petition filed in the Supreme Court seeking to halt Internet voting in the upcoming midterm elections scheduled for May 12. Comelec Chairperson George Garcia, in a recent interview, confirmed the commission’s preparedness to address the legal challenge and seek clarification on the matter. According to Philippines News Agency, the petition was initiated by the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), which argues that the implementation of digital ballots lacks authorization under current legislation. However, Garcia points to Republic Act (RA) 10590, which amends the