General

Iloilo: The provincial government has mandated the implementation of minimum public health standards for hazardous heat index (MPHS-HHI) and the establishment of evacuation centers to protect vulnerable residents from extreme heat. Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., through Executive Order No. 20 issued Thursday, directed local government units (LGUs) to set up air-conditioned or temperature-regulated evacuation centers as primary protection for at-risk individuals. According to Philippines News Agency, Governor Defensor stated, “The evacuation centers shall be air-conditioned/temperature-regulated facilities that shall serve as a primary measure for the protection of vulnerable persons from hazardous heat.” These centers will operate from 8 a.m. to

Manila: Total assets of the Philippine banking sector went up by over 9 percent as of end-January this year. Data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed that the total assets of the banking sector amounted to PHP27.11 trillion in January this year, up by 9.3 percent from PHP24.81 trillion in the same month last year. According to Philippines News Agency, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation chief economist Michael Ricafort stated that the growth in Philippine banks’ total assets aligns with their status as one of the most profitable industries in the country. Earnings growth for the largest banks

Ilocos Region: The inflation rate in the Ilocos Region eased to 2.5 percent in February, a decrease from 2.9 percent in January, as price hikes in essential goods such as food and utilities slowed, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) report released Thursday. According to Philippines News Agency, the February figure was 0.4 percentage points lower than the previous month but 0.5 percentage points higher than the 2.0 percent recorded during the same period last year. PSA Ilocos Region Director, lawyer Sheila de Guzman, noted that the slowdown was observed across several commodity groups, including food and non-alcoholic beverages

Kalinga: Women in the province of Kalinga are assured of protection with the local government ensuring that budget is allotted for initiatives that push the advancement of the sector. According to Philippines News Agency, under Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women, government agencies, including national government agencies and local government units, are required to have a Gender and Development (GAD) budget, which is at least 5 percent of their annual budget. In an interview on Thursday, Flordeliza Moldero, Provincial Planning and Development Officer of Kalinga, stated that their budget for women inclusivity exceeds the law-mandated 5 percent.

Marawi City: A notorious drug suspect was arrested and PHP3.4 million worth of shabu was seized during a buy-bust operation in Marawi City, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-BARMM) said Thursday. In a statement, PDEA-BARMM Director Gil Cesario Castro said the operation, conducted with police support, took place in Barangay Matampay on Wednesday. According to Philippines News Agency, the operation aligns with the ongoing efforts of PDEA-BARMM and the local government unit to dismantle drug networks in the area. The suspect, identified as ‘Angko,’ 35, a resident of Barangay Kanyugan Papandayan, was arrested after intensive