General

Bicol: The Commission on Elections in Bicol (Comelec-5) has issued an appeal to local candidates across the six provinces to voluntarily dismantle illegal campaign materials ahead of the ‘Oplan Baklas’ initiative, as the local campaign period is set to commence on Friday. According to Philippines News Agency, Comelec-5 Regional Director Maria Juana Valeza highlighted that notices were dispatched three days earlier, instructing candidates to remove posters that were improperly placed outside designated common poster areas, exceeded the permitted size, or violated election guidelines. Valeza urged candidates not to delay action, stating, “We have already notified them, and hopefully, they will

Iloilo City: The local government is moving to standardize the qualifications of barangay health workers (BHWs) serving as Health Education and Promotion Officers (HEPOs) in Iloilo City, following a recommendation from the local health board. According to Philippines News Agency, Councilor Alan Zaldivar, chair of the committee on health, sanitation, and hospital services at the Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council), emphasized the importance of equipping BHWs with the necessary skills and knowledge. This initiative aligns with the guidelines set by Universal Health Care and aims to enhance the workers’ communication skills and understanding of their responsibilities. Zaldivar sponsored the resolution that

Manila: Malaca±ang expressed pride on Thursday following tennis teen sensation Alex Eala’s remarkable victory at the ongoing Miami Open. The 19-year-old Eala reached the semifinal round after defeating world No. 2 and five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek early Thursday (PH time) at the Hard Rock Stadium. According to Philippines News Agency, Eala’s historic run also includes wins over unseeded American Katie Volynets, as well as two other Grand Slam champions: 2017 French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia and reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys of the United States. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Palace is delighted

Ehime: The massive wildfires that erupted on Sunday in the prefectures of Ehime and Okayama in western Japan have destroyed over 900 hectares of land. According to Philippines News Agency, as of 2 p.m. Wednesday, the fire in Imabari, Ehime, had scorched 417 hectares, while the blaze in Okayama City swept through approximately 559 hectares. In response to the extensive damage, the Ehime prefectural government declared that Imabari and the neighboring city of Saijo are now eligible for disaster relief aid. Evacuation orders were issued for 7,494 residents from 3,848 households in Imabari. In Okayama and the nearby city of

Ilocos Norte: The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Ilocos Norte on Thursday reported a significant decline in forest fire incidents in the province for the first quarter of this year. According to Philippines News Agency, Fire Superintendent Roxanne Annie Parado, Provincial Fire Marshal, stated that only three forest fires were recorded in the province during the first quarter, marking a dramatic decrease from the 26 incidents reported during the same period last year. Parado attributed this reduction to the collaborative efforts of an inter-agency task force established last year to address the causes of forest fires. The task force